Engineering:Tacite (rocket)
The inaugural member of ONERA sounding rockets fleet, the Tacite (Tentative d'Analyse du Contraste Infrarouge Terre-Espace, for Attempt to Analyze the Earth-Space Infrared Contrast), was a single-stage vehicle, used between 1965 and 1968.[1][2][3][4]
Description
Designed and developed by the Office national d'études et de recherches aérospatiales (ONERA), it was a single-stage vehicle equipped with a SEPR 739-2' Stromboli engine fueled by Plastoline' propellant, offering a propulsion duration of 20 seconds.[1][3][4] The rocket incorporates small nitrogen ejection nozzles to induce rotation and employs aerodynamic stabilization by a cruciform tailfin.[1][3][2]
With a total mass of 1738 kg (excluding the useful tip), Tacite reached a height of nearly 8 meters. It had the capability to propel a 285 kg payload to an altitude of 160 km.[1][3]
Launches
Operational between 1965 and 1968, this rocket underwent four launches, experiencing one failure.[1][3][2]
| Date | Launch Site | Mission Description | Agency | Apogee (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 June 15 | Biscarosse | Infrared Horizon Study Aeronomy | ONERA | 182 |
| 1967 Nov 23 | Ile du Levant | FU-169 X-ray astronomy | CNES | Failure |
| 1968 May 15 | Ile du Levant | Earth Infrared Aeronomy | CNES | 175 |
| 1968 Oct 15 | Ile du Levant | Sun pointing test / Solar observations | CNES | 140 |
See also
- Tibère (rocket)
- Bèrènice
- Antarès (OPd-56-39-22D)
- Mélanie (rocket)
- Veronique (rocket)
- French space program
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Fusées de l'ONERA". 2013-01-15. http://fuseurop.univ-perp.fr/onera_f.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "La fusée Tacite". http://eurospace.free.fr/tacite.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Tacite". http://www.astronautix.com/t/tacite.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "SEPR-739" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/sepr739.htm.
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