Diadème (satellites)

Diadème is the name of a pair of French artificial satellites of the D-1 series developed by CNES and built by Matra, launched in February 1967 using Diamant rockets.

[1][2][3][4] Like the first satellite of the Diapason series (D-1A), the purpose of Diadème 1 and 2 was to carry out geodetic surveys using Doppler and laser telemetry techniques.

In addition to the Doppler oscillator and laser reflectors,[5][3] the satellites also carried a radio beacon operating at 136 MHz for the transmission of telemetry data.

The satellites were stabilized relative to the Earth's magnetic field, with the satellite's axis tangent to the lines of force.

Both satellites were launched by a Diamant-A from CIEES in Hammaguir, Algeria:[3][4]

Diadème satellite model, Museum of Air and Space, Paris, Le Bourget