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History
On
November 26, 1965 France became the worlds third space nation, that had
launched it's own satellite with it's own launcher. The satellite was
first named A-1 (Army’s first satellite), then renamed to Asterix after
a french cartoon. Asterix was 50 cm in diameter, and launched by a diamant
A rocket. When the nose cone ejected one of its antennas was damaged.
Asterix ceased to work after 2 days. But it is still in orbit.
Asterix and diamant proved the determination of
France to have it's own space programme and play a leading role in
developing both satellites and launchers.
About the model
You
have two options, when you print
the model. You can use ordinary
white paper or silver paper.
Sources:
www.capcomespace.net
(In french - but simply the best)
www.cnes-multimedia.fr - the history of CNES satellites
www.cnes-csg.fr - ensemble de lancement Diamant
www.asterixweb.it
(Asterix cartoon drawing here!)
www.futura-sciences.com
When france became the third space power
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Harvey: Europe's Space Programme: To Ariane and Beyond
Rockets
of the world by Peter Alway,
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