| Biscarosse |
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In April 1962 France signed the final agreements with Algeria, requiring them to evacuate their rocket test ranged there by July 1967. Three months later a site on French soil on the Bay of Biscay, at Landes, near Biscarosse, was selected. The site would allow the testing of missiles over the Atlantic out to a range of 3000 km. This would put the RV impact area near the Azores, and a tracking station was opened in October 1966 on Flores island. This was supplemented by a tracking ship (the Henri Poincare, operational from March 1968 to 1991, and then the Monge). The site became operational for short-range missile tests in March 1964. The first test of a prototypes of the SSBS strategic missile began on 15 February, 1966. Tests of the MSBS SLBM and Pluton tactical nuclear missile began in 1968. Tests of the Hades tactical missile began in 1988. Biscarosse was known to have been used for 175 launches from 1965 to 2007, reaching up to 1560 kilometers altitude. The actual number including missile tests was much greater. Launch Pads
General / Launch Complex Unknown Chronology 1965 June 15 - 00:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Tacite TACITE 01 Infrared Horizon Study Aeronomy mission Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi). 1967 July 5 - 14:07 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Diamant. Rubis R10 Rubis 04 Astronomy mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 1,560 km (960 mi). Radio-astronomy experiment; measured the MHz range radio background 1967 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Europa. Cora G3 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1968? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V2 V2 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1968? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V3 V3 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1968 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. LV Model: Dragon 1 . Dragon D-32 FU-172 Solar Helium Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 440 km (270 mi). 1968 March 8 - Launch Vehicle: Stromboli. Dauphin DA003 FU-168 A-cone test Agency: CNES. Apogee: 123 km (76 mi). 1968 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier III 301 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1968 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Stromboli. Dauphin DA004 FU-168 B-cone test Agency: CNES. Apogee: 98 km (60 mi). 1968 July 23 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 3 D-301 FU-188 Technology test Agency: CNES. Apogee: 562 km (349 mi). 1968 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V1 V1 Vecteur operational test launch Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1969? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V4 V4 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1969? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V5 V5 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1969? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V6 V6 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1969 February 6 - 10:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 2B D-258 FU-180 Mass spectrometer F1 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 430 km (260 mi). 1969 February 6 - 13:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 2B D-257 FU-180 Mass spectrometer F2 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 405 km (251 mi). 1969 February 6 - 22:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 2B D-256 FU-180 Mass spectrometer F3 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 430 km (260 mi). 1969 February 7 - 01:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 2B D-259 FU-180 Mass spectrometer F4 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 413 km (256 mi). 1969 May 27 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 3 D-303 FAILURE: Failure. FU-192 Plasma Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1969 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier III B307 CRAPEL/ELECTRE re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi). 1969 November 18 - 13:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 3 D-304 FU-192 Plasma Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 475 km (295 mi). 1970? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C2 C2 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1970? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C4 C4 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1970? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C3 C3 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1970? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 V7 V7 test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1970 June 11 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C1 C1 Charge (RV) Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1970 October 6 - 10:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 3 D-305 EIDI-1 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 480 km (290 mi). 1970 October 22 - 08:23 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. Dragon 3 D-306 EIDI-2 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 480 km (290 mi). 1971? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C8 C8 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C7 C7 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C5 C5 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M013 C6 C6 Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971 February 23 - Launch Vehicle: Berenice. ELECTRE Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). 1971 May 29 - 10:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1971 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1972? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). 1972 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Berenice. ELECTRE Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 159 km (98 mi). 1972 October 10 - 14:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Forschungsflugkorper. Forschungsflugkorper 1 FAILURE: Failure. DLR C-FFK-45 test Agency: DLR. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1972 October 24 - 15:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Forschungsflugkorper. Forschungsflugkorper 2 FAILURE: Failure. DLR C-FFK-46 test Agency: DLR. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1973 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 600 km (370 mi). 1973? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 600 km (370 mi). 1973 February 17 - 23:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Belier. FU-211 EIDI-3 Ionosphere mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi). 1974 May 7 - 13:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Forschungsflugkorper. Forschungsflugkorper 3 DLR C-FFK-47 test Agency: DLR. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). 1976 April 7 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 600 km (370 mi). 1979 July 1 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 600 km (370 mi). 1980? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Operational test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 600 km (370 mi). 1982? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1982? - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1982 March 10 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M4 8 Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1983 July 12 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1983 November 23 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M4 13 Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1984 February 22 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M4 14 Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1984 July 12 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1986 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Long range test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1988 November 22 - Launch Vehicle: Hades. Test mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). 1989 March 8 - Launch Vehicle: Hades. Test mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). 1990 January 15 - 12:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC1 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 92 km (57 mi). 1990 January 15 - 19:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS2 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 92 km (57 mi). 1990 January 15 - 20:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC3 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 92 km (57 mi). 1990 January 18 - 19:35 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC4 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 January 18 - 20:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS5 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 January 22 - 19:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS6 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 1 - 19:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC7 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 99 km (61 mi). 1990 February 1 - 19:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS8 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 95 km (59 mi). 1990 February 5 - 19:05 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC9 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 96 km (59 mi). 1990 February 5 - 19:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS10 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 96 km (59 mi). 1990 February 8 - 20:26 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC11 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 8 - 20:51 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS12 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 03:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC13 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 03:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS14 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 03:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC15 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 04:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Nike Orion DLR C-NO-175 DYANA DBN1 TURBO Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). 1990 February 20 - 05:14 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS16 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 05:39 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC17 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 06:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC18 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 89 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 06:29 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS19 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 20 - 06:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC20 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 22 - 19:06 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC21 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 February 22 - 19:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS22 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 1 - 19:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC23 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 1 - 20:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS24 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 6 - 05:03 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS26 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi). 1990 March 6 - 05:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Nike Orion DLR C-NO-176 DYANA DBN2 TURBO Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 128 km (79 mi). 1990 March 6 - 05:38 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC27 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 6 - 05:58 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS28 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 109 km (67 mi). 1990 March 6 - 06:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS29 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 109 km (67 mi). 1990 March 6 - 06:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC30 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 6 - 07:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC31 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 8 - 19:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC32 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 8 - 19:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC33 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 13 - 02:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS34 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 93 km (57 mi). 1990 March 13 - 03:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC35 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 98 km (60 mi). 1990 March 13 - 03:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS36 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 95 km (59 mi). 1990 March 13 - 04:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC37 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi). 1990 March 13 - 04:21 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Nike Orion DLR C-NO-177 DYANA DBN3 TURBO Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 128 km (79 mi). 1990 March 13 - 04:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS38 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1990 March 13 - 05:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Chaff DYANA DBC39 Aeronomy mission Agency: DLR. Apogee: 102 km (63 mi). 1990 March 13 - 05:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS40 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 95 km (59 mi). 1990 March 15 - 19:21 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Viper. Viper 3A Sphere DYANA DBS41 Aeronomy mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). 1992 - Launch Vehicle: Hades. Test mission Agency: DGA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). 1993 May 26 - 09:43 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Nike Orion DLR C-NO-202 Aerospatiale test Agency: DLR. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi). 1995 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M45 1 Test mission Agency: DMA. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 2006 November 9 - 08:51 GMT - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M51 1 M51 test launch Agency: DMA. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 2007 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M51 2 M51 SLBM test Agency: DMA. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. To contact astronauts or cosmonauts. © Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted. |
