Topaze (Véhicule Expérimental 111 Topaze) is the designation of a French sounding rocket. The Topaze was developed by several French companies, notably Nord Aviation and Sud Aviation, and built by SEREB (a joint venture of Nord and Sud, now known as Aérospatiale) and was the first guidable French sounding rocket. thumb|Military space program Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes [[Agate (rocket)|Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis et Saphir.|left]]It was part of the Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir,
Versions
There were three versions of the Topaze:
- payload mass: 410 kg (900 lb)
- total mass: 2900 kg (6400 lb)
- length: 7.07 m (23.2 ft)
- range: 80 km (49 mi)
- liftoff thrust: 120.0 kN
- Soleil NA802 "Mammouth" solid rocket engine
Launches
There were launches between 1962 and 1964, reaching an apogee of 80 km (49 mi).
- payload mass: 360 kg (840 lb)
- total mass: 3434 kg (7570 lb)
- length: 7.90 m (25.9 ft)
- range: 110 km (68 mi)
- liftoff thrust 147.0 kN
- Soleil NA803 solid rocket engine
Launches
:This version was launched eight times between 21 December 1963 and 21 May 1965, with apogees up to 110 km (68 mi).
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Topaze VE111L launches
!Date
!Mission Description
!Apogee (km)
|-
|1963 December 21
|Test mission
|110 km
|-
|1964 March 11
|Test mission
|110 km
|}