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Véronique (rocket)

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Véronique
Preparation of a Véronique-AGI rocket circa 1962
Country of originFrance
Size
Height6 to 11.7m (Véronique 61M)
Diameter0.55 m
Mass1 to 2 tons
Stages1
Capacity
Launch history
StatusSucceeded by the Diamant rocket
Launch sitesCIEES, Guiana Space Centre
First stage
Thrust20 to 60 kN (Véronique 61M)
PropellantNitric acid / kerosene or turpentine
[edit on Wikidata]

Véronique was a French liquid-fuelled sounding rocket of the 1950s. It was the first liquid-fuel research rocket in Western Europe.[1]

Véronique was a French-led project that had its roots in the German V-2 rocket, and was partially developed by German scientists who had worked in Peenemünde. A successor to the cancelled Super V-2, Véronique was built between 1950 and 1969 in several versions, of which the P2, P6 and R were only experimental models. They were made in Vernon, Eure. The name Véronique is a portmanteau of Vernon-électronique, and is also a common French first name.[2]

On 20 February 1959, the first Véronique launch was performed, although it was recorded as a failure. One day later, the second launch took place, which attained an altitude of 84 miles (135 km). The last Veronique-61 was launched on 31 May 1974. The programme was eclipsed by new rockets, such as the wholly indigenous Diamant launcher.

History

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Background

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In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, various nations were keen to incorporate recent military advances into their own armed forces; the newly liberated nation of France was no exception.[3] Akin to the American's Operation Paperclip, France recruited various scientists and skilled personnel from the former Axis countries, particularly those with knowledge of advanced aerospace technologies. Amongst these were in excess of 30 staff that had formerly worked at Peenemünde, the hub of the Nazi German rocket programme that produced the V-2 rocket.[3]

During mid-1946, France embarked on development of a V-2 derivative, popularly referred to as the Super V-2.[3] This programme involved two distinct phases, the first being the establishment of appropriate facilities to produce V-2 components – this was partially achieved via the acquisition of most of the components for roughly 30 V-2s, either from subcontractors in France or sourced from the French zone of occupation in Germany. Surveys for a suitable launch facility in Algeria were also conducted, opting for a site near Colomb-Bechar (CIEES).[3]

However, major problems with the Super V-2 programme had become clear by early 1947.[4] France's allies were unwilling to supply V-2 components, yet establishing a completely independent production of all components in France was estimated to take at least five years, by which point the Super V-2 was expected to have become obsolete. Thus, it was decided that two separate programmes would be pursued; in addition to work on the Super V-2, a purely French derivative, initially referred to as project 4212, would be designed by a separate team.[5] During 1948, the Super V-2 project was abandoned in favour other efforts, cumulating in project 4213, a one-tenth scale rocket that was given the name Veronique, a portmanteau of Vernon et electronique.[6]

During March 1949, work formally commenced on Veronique.[7] The project had the primary objective of delivering a flight test vehicle for liquid rocket engine development; a secondary purpose was the launching of scientific payloads at high altitudes. Principal responsibility for manufacturing was held by the Laboratoire de recherches balistiques et aérodynamiques (LRBA).[7]

Into flight

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DEFA Veronique rockets
Véronique rocket habitat
Véronique rocket at Musée de l'air et de l'espace

Partial system tests were conducted in 1951 and early 1952 (Veronique P and R (Réduite)).[7][8] However, it was not until May 1952 that the first full-scale Véronique-N (Normal) was launched.[8] It was powered by a single liquid-fuelled rocket motor with a thrust of four tonnes; its fuel was a combination of kerosene and nitric acid.[7] Veronique employed a unique wire-guidance system that used four 55 m cables attached to its fins immediately upon launch. Initially, the rocket motor suffered from combustion instability, which became a leading cause of early launch failures; furthermore, the maximum altitude of 65 km was found to be insufficient for many scientific purposes.[7]

Accordingly, it was decided to undertake a lengthy development programme throughout the 1950s which produced numerous other models were produced for specific purposes.[7] The Véronique AGI (Année Géophysique Internationale) was developed as a sounding rocket, a total of 15 such rockets were constructed using subsidies provided by the French National Defense Scientific Action Committee.[8] This model was largely similar to the Véronique-N, had had a reduced empty weight, and a simplified engine that used turpentine fuel in place of kerosene.[7] A lengthened model, the Véronique NA (Normale Allongée),[8] enabled an altitude of 135 km to be reached; it also features a modified engine injector that had greater stability. A pair of Véronique P2 test vehicles were produced to experiment with the wire-guidance system.[7]

The definitive version was the Veronique-61 (1961),[8] which featured substantial improvements such as a 50% increase in thrust. It was a far larger rocket, capable of carrying a 60 kg payload to an altitude of 315 km.[7] A lengthened version, the Veronique-61M (Modifié),[8] was also produced, suitable for carrying payloads of up to 100 kg.[9] On 8 June 1964, the first was launched; the last Veronique-61 was launched on 31 May 1974. Of the 21 launches performed, 20 were considered to be failures to varying degrees.[9]

Amongst the tests in aid of scientific research that were conducted using the rocket were a series of biological experiments involving live animals.[10] On account of the available payload capacity and thrust output available via Véronique, the use of larger animals was not possible, thus rats and cats were used; these were carried within a sealed container within the rocket's nose cone which was designed to be retrievable and for the return of its occupant alive. One consequence of these flights was the only recorded launch of a cat into space.[11]

By 1965, the Véronique had begun to be eclipsed by a newer rocket, which was also entirely indigenously designed, the Diamant expendable launch system.[12]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Veronique (sounding rocket).

Variants

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Five Veronique versions were developed:[8]

Type Mass Length Diameter Thrust Duration Payload Apogee
Veronique N 1,100 kg
(2,400 lb) 		6.5 m
(21 ft 4 in) 		55 cm
(22 in) 		40 kN
(9,000 lbf) 		32 seconds 60 kg
(130 lb) 		70 km
(43 mi)
Veronique NA 1,435 kg
(3,164 lb) 		7.3 m
(23 ft 11 in) 		45 seconds 60 kg
(130 lb) 		135 km
(84 mi)
Veronique AGI 1,342 kg
(2,959 lb) 		7.3 m
(23 ft 11 in) 		49 seconds 60 kg
(130 lb) 		210 km
(130 mi)
Veronique 61 1,932 kg
(4,259 lb) 		9.5 m
(31 ft 2 in) 		60 kN
(13,000 lbf) 		54 seconds 60 kg
(130 lb) 		315 km
(196 mi)
Veronique 61M 2,050 kg
(4,520 lb) 		11.7 m
(38 ft 5 in) 		56 seconds 100 kg
(220 lb) 		325 km
(202 mi)

Launches

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Veronique rockets were launched from 1950 to 1975:[8]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Ley, Willy (June 1964). "Anyone Else for Space?". For Your Information. Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 110–128.
  2. ^ Wade, Mark. "Véronique". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Reuter 2000, p. 179.
  4. ^ Reuter 2000, pp. 179–180.
  5. ^ Reuter 2000, p. 180.
  6. ^ Reuter 2000, pp. 180–181.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Reuter 2000, p. 181.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Serra, Jean-Jacques (2008-06-14). "Veronique and Vesta". Rockets in Europe. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  9. ^ a b Reuter 2000, pp. 181–182.
  10. ^ Burgess and Dubbs 2007, pp. 220–222.
  11. ^ Burgess and Dubbs 2007, pp. 222–228.
  12. ^ Reuter 2000, p. 182.

Bibliography

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