The Diamant rocket program was France’s first orbital launch system and a major achievement in European space history. Developed to provide France with independent access to space, it was managed by CNES (Centre national d’études spatiales) and supported by the French aerospace industry. The program ran from 1962 to 1975.
History & Evolution
The first successful launch occurred on November 26, 1965, when the Diamant A rocket carried the satellite Astérix into orbit. This made France the third country in the world, after the Soviet Union and the United States, to launch a satellite using its own launch vehicle.
Versions of Diamant
There were three main versions of the Diamant rocket:
Diamant A (1965–1967)
The original version, capable of placing a 150 kg payload into low Earth orbit. It completed four launches, two of which were successful.
- Height: ~19 meters
- Payload to LEO: ~150 kg
- Launches: 4 (2 successful)
- Notable: Launched Astérix, France’s first satellite
Diamant B (1970–1973)
An improved version with greater thrust and payload capacity, able to lift around 200 kg. It flew five times, with three successful missions.
- Improved thrust and payload capacity (~200 kg to LEO)
- Launches: 5 (3 successful)
Diamant BP4 (1975)
The final and most advanced version. It was launched only once, successfully placing the German satellite Amsat-OSCAR 7 into orbit.
- Final and most advanced version
- One launch: Success, used to orbit a German satellite (Amsat-OSCAR 7)
Infrastructure and Facilities
Project Mercury utilized existing NASA facilities, including the Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Lewis Research Center in Ohio, and the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center) in Texas. These facilities were responsible for spacecraft design and development, astronaut training, mission control, and recovery operations.
End of the Program
After 1975, France discontinued Diamant in favor of collaborative European launch efforts.
The Diamant rockets laid the technological foundation for later European space efforts and established France as a major spacefaring nation. Resources and expertise were channeled into the development of the Ariane rocket family under the European Space Agency (ESA).
