Berenice (rocket)

Berenice was the designation of a four-stage French experimental rocket, developed by O.N.E.R.A. (Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches AérospatialesOffice National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales).

The twelve production rockets, Berenice 001 to Berenice 012, were tested from 1962 to 1966. The Berenice was 13.25 m (43.5 ft) long, possessed a diameter of 0.56 m (1.8 ft) and weighed 3,340 kg (7,360 lb) at launch. The takeoff thrust of the Berenice, which could carry a payload of 3,340 kg (7,360 lb) to a height of 1,000 km (620 mi), amounted to 170 kN (38,000 lbf). The first stage, a SEPR 739 Stromboli, was stabilised by four SEPR 167 rockets developing 34 kN (7,600 lbf). The second stage consisted of a SEPR 740, almost identical to the first stage. The third stage was a SEPR 200 Tramontane and the fourth stage comprised a Melanie rocket and payload.^[1][2]

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