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Centaure (rocket)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Centaure
Centaur rocket
Country of originFrance[1]
Applicationhigh altitude research
sounding rocket[2]

Centaure was a two-stage French sounding rocket consisting of a Venus first stage and a Belier second stage.[3][4][5] It belongs to a family of solid-propellant rockets consisting of the Belier, Centaure, Dragon, Dauphin, and Eridan.[4][5]

Sud-Aviation Belier rockets evolution

It was operated by Sud-Aviation between 1961 and 1986.[3][5][6] Centaure rockets were launched from the CIEES/Hammaguir missile range, Reggane, CELPA, Salto di Quirra, Esrange, Thumba, Sonmiani, and Andøya.[5]

It had a maximum payload of 60 kg, an apogee of 130-146 km,[5] a launch thrust of 44 kN, a launch weight of 500-600 kg, a diameter of 0.28 m and a length of 5.9-6.3 m.

Versions

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There were various versions of Centaure rockets:[4][6][7][8][9][10]

Version Stages Gross mass (kg) Height (m) Diameter (m) Apogee (km)
Centaure Venus + Belier 457 6.02 0.28 140
Centaure 1 Venus + Belier 600 5.9 0.28 130
Centaure 2A Venus + Belier II 600 5.9 0.28 146
Centaure 2B Venus + Belier II 500 6.3 0.28 146
Centaure 2C Venus + Belier II 600 5.9 0.28 146

Launches

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A large number of Centaure rockets was launched between 1961 and 1986:[6][7][8][9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1965). Semiannual Report to the Congress. The Administration.
  2. ^ STAR. NASA, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. 1967.
  3. ^ a b "Fusées-sondes Bélier, Centaure et Éridan | musée des Arts et Métiers". www.arts-et-metiers.net (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  4. ^ a b c "Centaure". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  5. ^ a b c d e Wade, Mark. "Centaure". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  6. ^ a b c "Centaure". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. ^ a b "Centaure 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. ^ a b "Centaure 2A". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. ^ a b "Centaure 2B". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. ^ a b "Centaure 2C". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
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