Bérénice was the designation of a four-stage French atmospheric reentry test rocket, developed by O.N.E.R.A. (Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales).[1] [2] [3]
Bérénice was 13.25m (43.47feet) long, possessed a diameter of 0.56m (01.84feet) and weighed 3340kg (7,360lb) at launch. The takeoff thrust of Bérénice, which could carry a payload of 3340kg (7,360lb) to a height of 1000km (1,000miles), amounted to 170kN. The first stage, a SEPR-739 Stromboli, was stabilised by four SEPR-P167 rockets developing 34kN. The second stage consisted of a SEPR-740 Stromboli, almost identical to the first stage. The third stage was a SEPR-P200 Tramontane and the fourth stage comprised a Mélanie rocket and payload.[4] [5]
The twelve production rockets, Bérénice 001 to Bérénice 012, were launched by ONERA from Ile du Levant from 1962 to 1966.
| Date | Mission Description | Apogee (km) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 June 27 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1962 Q3 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1962 July 6 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1962 November 1 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1963 June 27 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1963 July 3 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1964 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1964 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1964 October 1 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 250 | |
| 1964 October 1 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 250 | |
| 1965 | Re-entry Vehicle test | 270 | |
| 1966 | Titus test / solar mission | 270 |