Éridan (rocket)

The Éridan is a two-stage French sounding rocket, which results from the use of the Stromboli engine (also used on the Dragon and Dauphin) for the first and second stages.

It belonged to a family of solid-propellant rockets that also encompasses the Belier, the Centaure, the Dragon, and the Dauphin. As the most powerful version of this series it could lift payloads from 120 kilograms (260 lb) to 250 kilograms (550 lb) up to altitudes of 220 kilometres (720,000 ft) to a maximum of 425 kilometres (1,394,000 ft).

Its ascent time is between 230 and 350 seconds. Total thrust was 90.00 kN (20,232 lbf) with a gross mass of 2,006 kilograms (4,422 lb) to 2,316 kilograms (5,106 lb) depending in payload. The rocket had a height of 9.92 metres (32.5 ft), a diameter of 0.56 metres (1.8 ft) and a span of 1.773 metres (5.82 ft).

An improved version called Éridan II was planned in 1971 but it never materialized due to the project being cancelled in 1973.