Rubis (rocket)

This article is about the French two-stage rocket. For the French ship series, see French ship Rubis. For the storage and distribution company, see Rubis (company).
Rubis (VE 210)
A diagram of the Rubis rocket
ManufacturerSEREB
Country of originFrance
Size
Height9.60 metres (31.5 ft)
Diameter0.80 metres (2 ft 7 in)
Mass4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb)
Stages2
Associated rockets
FamilyPierres Précieuses
("Precious Stones")
Derivative workDiamant
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesCIEES/DGA Essais de missiles
Total launches10
First flight10 June 1964
Last flight5 July 1967
First stage – NA801
Powered byNA801 Mammouth
Maximum thrust190.00 kilonewtons (42,710 lbf)
Burn time18 seconds
Propellantsolid
Second stage – P6
Powered byP064
Maximum thrust29.40 kilonewtons (6,610 lbf)
Specific impulse211 seconds
Burn time45 seconds
Propellantsolid
[edit on Wikidata]

The VE 210 Rubis (French, meaning ruby) was a French two-stage rocket.[1]

Military space program pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir.

It was part of the pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir,[2] leading up to the Diamant orbital rocket.

Its codename, VE210, indicates that it is a "Véhicule Expérimental" (Experimental Vehicle) with 2 stages, using solid propellant (code 1), and not guided (code 0).

The rocket was used to test technologies used in the Diamant, as well as to launch scientific instruments from the Paris Observatory and Max Planck Institute.[3]

Description

Rubis used an NA801 Mammouth engine (similar to Agate) for its first stage and a P064 engine for its second stage.[1] The Rubis has a maximum altitude of 2,000 kilometers, a takeoff thrust of 186 kN, a diameter of 0.80 metres (2.6 ft) and a length of 9.60 metres (31.5 ft).

  • Rubis at the front left
    Rubis at the front left
  • Rubis equipment bay
    Rubis equipment bay
  • Rubis payload
    Rubis payload

Launches

The Rubis was launched eleven times from 10 June 1964 to 5 July 1967.[1] All Rubis rockets were launched from CIEES at Hammaguir, French Algeria, with the exception of the last launch, which took place from DGA Essais de missiles, Biscarosse.[1]

Number Date Result Launch site Payload
1 10 Jun 1964 Success CIEES Research flight
2 12 Jun 1964 Success CIEES Research flight
3 12 Oct 1964 Stage separation failure CIEES Research flight
4 18 Dec 1964 Stage separation failure CIEES Research flight
5 31 May 1965 Success CIEES A-1 capsule 1 (Asterix prototype)
6 3 Jun 1965 Success CIEES A-1 capsule 2 (Asterix prototype)
7 5 Jun 1965 Success CIEES Rubis 01/D-1
8 30 Sep 1965 Success CIEES Rubis 02
9 22 Apr 1966 Success CIEES Rubis 03/MPE Ba-17
10 5 Jul 1967 Success DGA Essais de missiles Rubis 04

References

  1. ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter D. "Rubis (VE-210)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  2. ^ Capdevila, Didier. "Les Constellations et les Pierres Précieuses". Capcom Espace. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "Rubis". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
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