The Third Country To Build an Orbital Rocket - A Diamond In The Sky

After the USSR & USA reached orbit it would be 7 years before another country managed the same feat when France's home grown Diamant rocket launched the Asterix satellite. France's rocketry program started during World War II and would build larger and larger sounding rockets until committing to building an orbital launch capability (and ballistic missiles) became a priority in the 1960's.

There would be 3 iterations on the Diamant rocket before France transitioned to the Ariane launch vehicle.


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