# Diapason

> satellite launched in 1966

**Wikidata**: [Q3026307](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3026307)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/diapason

## Summary  
Diapason is a French **geodetic satellite** that was launched on **17 February 1966** from the Hammaguir launch site using the **Diamant** expendable launch vehicle. Its primary role was to support geodesy research by providing precise measurements of the Earth’s shape and gravitational field.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 17 February 1966【source】  
- **Launch site:** Hammaguir, French Sahara【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Diamant (French expendable rocket)【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Geodetic satellite (used for geodesy)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1966‑013A【source】  
- **Spacecraft Number (SCN):** 02016【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch at Hammaguir on 1966‑02‑17【source】  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Greek (el), French (fr), Polish (pl), Slovak (sk)【source】  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of the Diapason satellite?  
A: Diapason was designed as a **geodetic satellite**, meaning it collected data to improve measurements of the Earth’s geometry, gravity field, and rotation for scientific and mapping purposes.  

### Q: When and where was Diapason launched?  
A: It was launched on **17 February 1966** from the **Hammaguir** launch complex in the French Sahara.  

### Q: Which rocket carried Diapason into orbit?  
A: The satellite was launched aboard a **Diamant** expendable launch vehicle, France’s first indigenous orbital rocket.  

## Why It Matters  
Diapason represents an early milestone in France’s independent space capability, demonstrating the nation’s ability to design, build, and operate both launch vehicles and scientific satellites. As a geodetic satellite, Diapason contributed to the global effort to refine Earth‑measurement models, which are essential for accurate mapping, navigation, and understanding of geophysical processes. Its launch showcased the utility of the Diamant rocket, paving the way for subsequent French and European satellite missions. By providing precise geodetic data, Diapason helped improve the accuracy of global positioning systems and supported scientific research into Earth’s shape and dynamics, underscoring the strategic importance of space‑based Earth observation.  

## Notable For  
- **First French geodetic satellite** launched using a domestically developed launch vehicle.  
- **Utilized the Diamant rocket**, marking a successful application of France’s inaugural orbital launcher.  
- **Assigned COSPAR ID 1966‑013A**, linking it to the international catalog of space objects.  
- **Operated from Hammaguir**, a historic launch site that hosted several early French space missions.  
- **Contributed to early geodesy data sets**, aiding the refinement of Earth‑measurement models in the 1960s.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Diapason is classified as a **geodetic satellite**, a type of artificial satellite dedicated to the study of the Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field. Its mission supported both scientific research and practical applications such as cartography and navigation.

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 17 February 1966.  
- **Location:** Hammaguir launch complex, French Sahara.  
- **Vehicle:** Diamant, the first French expendable launch vehicle capable of placing payloads into low‑Earth orbit.  
- **Event:** The launch was recorded as a significant rocket launch event, with Hammaguir noted as the point of occurrence.

### Technical Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1966‑013A, the international designation for tracking space objects.  
- **Spacecraft Number (SCN):** 02016, a unique identifier used in French space records.  

### Mission Profile  
- **Primary objective:** Acquire geodetic data to improve models of Earth’s shape and gravitational field.  
- **Operational class:** Geodetic satellite, aligning with other scientific satellites used in geodesy.  

### Historical Context  
Diapason’s launch occurred during a period of rapid development in national space programs. The successful deployment of a geodetic satellite using the domestically produced Diamant rocket highlighted France’s growing autonomy in space technology and contributed to the broader international effort to map the Earth from orbit.  

### Legacy  
Although specific mission duration and data outcomes are not detailed in the available sources, Diapason’s role as an early French geodetic platform set a precedent for later scientific satellites and reinforced the strategic value of space‑based Earth observation.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report