Bélier (rocket)
{{Short description|French sounding rocket}}
File:Belier Musee du Bourget 2.JPG]]
Bélier is the designation of a French sounding rocket family.{{Cite web |title=Belier |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/belier.htm |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Belier |url=http://www.astronautix.com/b/belier.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.astronautix.com}} Three versions of the Bélier were launched between 1961 and 1970 at the CIEES launch facility at Hammaguir, the Salto di Quirra and Ile du Levant missile ranges, and Kourou Space Center.{{Cite web |title=Belier I |url=http://www.astronautix.com/b/belieri.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.astronautix.com}}{{Cite web |title=Belier II |url=http://www.astronautix.com/b/belierii.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.astronautix.com}}{{Cite web |title=Belier III |url=http://www.astronautix.com/b/belieriii.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.astronautix.com}}
After its retirement, the Bélier was used as a stage for a family of solid-propellant rockets, including the Centaure, the Dragon, the Dauphin and the Éridan.{{Cite web |title=Dragon |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/dragon.htm |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Centaure |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/centaure.htm |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}
Versions
= Belier I =
The first Belier single stage rocket, powered by a Jericho motor.
- payload: 30 kg
- apogee: 80 km
- takeoff thrust: 20.00 kN
- takeoff weight: 313 kg
- diameter: 0.31 m
- length: 4.01 m
- fin span: 0.78 m
= Belier II =
= Belier III =
Upgraded Belier single stage rocket, powered by a Vega motor using 'Isolane' propellant.
- apogee: 109 km
- takeoff weight: 400 kg
- diameter: 0.31 m
- length: 3.80 m
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date !Launch Site !Nation !Agency !Apogee (km) !Mission |
| 1968 March 18
|CNES |0 |{{Failure}} |
| 1968 May 14
|CNES, ESRO |130 |Test mission |
| 1969 March 6
|France |CNES |100 |Test mission |
| 1969 September 25
|Biscarrose |France |ONERA |60 |CRAPEL/ELECTRE re-entry vehicle test flight |
{{Commonscat|Belier (rocket)}}