Véronique (rocket)
Preparation of a Véronique-AGI rocket circa 1962 | |
| Country of origin | France |
|---|---|
| Size | |
| Height | 6 to 11.7m (Véronique 61M) |
| Diameter | 0.55 m |
| Mass | 1 to 2 tons |
| Stages | 1 |
| Capacity | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Succeeded by the Diamant rocket |
| Launch sites | CIEES, Guiana Space Centre |
| First stage | |
| Thrust | 20 to 60 kN (Véronique 61M) |
| Propellant | Nitric acid / kerosene or turpentine |
Véronique was a French liquid-fuelled sounding rocket of the 1950s. It was the first liquid-fuel research rocket in Western Europe.
Véronique was a French-led project that had its roots in the German V-2 rocket, and was partially developed by German scientists who had worked in Peenemünde. A successor to the cancelled Super V-2, Véronique was built between 1950 and 1969 in several versions, of which the P2, P6 and R were only experimental models. They were made in Vernon, Eure. The name Véronique is a portmanteau of Vernon-électronique, and is also a common French first name.
On 20 February 1959, the first Véronique launch was performed, although it was recorded as a failure. One day later, the second launch took place, which attained an altitude of 84 miles (135 km). The last Veronique-61 was launched on 31 May 1974. The programme was eclipsed by new rockets, such as the wholly indigenous Diamant launcher.