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.[1][2]
It belonged to a family of solid-propellant rockets that also encompasses the Belier, the Centaure, the Dragon, and the Dauphin.[3][4] 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).[5]
Its ascent time is between 230 and 350 seconds.[6] 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).[2][5]
An improved version called Éridan II was planned in 1971 but it never materialized due to the project being cancelled in 1973.[1]
The first flight from Kourou on 26 September 1968 failed,[2] but was followed by twelve successful launches that took the rocket to altitudes of 196 to 420 km between 12 April 1969 and 14 November 1979. Objectives were ultraviolet astronomy experiments, solar physics and training launches for operators at the Kourou launch base.[5]
Two Éridan were launched in January and February 1975 off the Kerguelen Islands for magnetosphere studies.[1][2]
^ abcJung, Philippe (29 September 2003). "History of Dauphin & Eridan Sounding Rockets". 54th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the International Institute of Space Law. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.IAC-03-IAA.2.3.05. Retrieved 2023-07-30. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
^"Eridan". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
^ abcInstitut français d'histoire de l'espace, ed. (2007). Les débuts de la recherche spatiale française: au temps des fusées-sondes. Paris: Edite : Institut français d'histoire de l'espace. p. 398. ISBN978-2-84608-215-0.
^"Intéressés, ils demandèrent au CNES d'envisager sérieusement un projet d'astronomie spatiale d'envergure qui serait réalisé par quelque soixante fusées-sondes Éridan (ou de la classe Éridan).". Les débuts de la recherche spatiale française. Institut français d'histoire de l'espace. 2007. ISBN978-2846082150.
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