| CERES Ile du Levant | |
| Nativename: | Centre d'Essais et de Recherches d'Engins Spéciaux |
| Type: | rocket launch site |
| Operator: | ONERA, CNES, ESRO |
| Location: | Ile du Levant |
| Used: | 1956 to 1968 |
| Coordinates: | 43.05°N 6.48°W |
| Pushpin Map: | France |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in France |
CERES ("Centre d'Essais et de Recherches d'Engins Spéciaux" for "Special Weapons Research and Tests Center") Ile du Levant was a French suborbital rocket launch site, located at Ile du Levant, and active between 1956 and 1968.[1] [2] [3] CERES played a pivotal role in testing a wide array of tactical missiles used in France, as well as conducting tests for sounding rockets on behalf of CNES and ESRO. Additionally, the center was involved in experiments with ONERA and SEREB experimental vehicles, solidifying its significance in the realm of missile research and testing.[4]
In the early 1950s, a military missile test site was established at the French naval base on the Ile du Levant, an offshore island in the Mediterranean near Toulon. Known as CERES, it replaced a beach site at Pampelonne used for launches since 1948.
This facility served as a Naval Air Force base throughout the 1950s, testing missiles not only for the Navy but also for other branches of the armed forces. On September 1, 1968, it merged with other institutions for form CEM (Centre d'Essais de la Méditerranée or Mediterranean Test Center).
More than one hundred vehicles were launched from Ile du Levant, including sounding rockets such as Monica, Daniel, Antarès, Bélier, Agate, Centaure, Bérénice, Belenos, LEX, MD-620, Tacite, MSBS M112, MSBS M011, Dauphin, Belisama, Epona and Grannos.
| 1959 | 3 Antarès, 1 Daniel | |
| 1960 | 6 Antarès | |
| 1961 | 3 Antarès, 2 Daniel | |
| 1962 | 5 Bélier, 4 Bérénice, 7 Centaure | |
| 1963 | 2 Agate, 1 Bélier, 2 Bérénice, 1 Centaure | |
| 1964 | 2 Agate, 1 Bélier, 4 Bérénice, 3 Centaure, 1 LEX | |
| 1965 | 1 Bérénice, 5 Centaure, 3 LEX, 1 Tacite | |
| 1966 | 1 Bérénice | |
| 1967 | 1 Dauphin, 4 LEX, 1 Tacite | |
| 1968 | 2 Tacite | |
| 1969 | 2 Centaure |