Europa (rocket)

Europa
Europa II rocket at Euro Space Center
FunctionOrbital carrier rocket
ManufacturerELDO
Size
Height33 m (108 ft)
Diameter3.05 m (10.0 ft)
Mass105,000 kg (231,000 lb)
Stages3–4
Capacity
Payload to geostationary transfer orbit
MassEuropa I: 200 kg (440 lb)
Europa II: 360 kg (790 lb)
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesWoomera, LA-6
Guiana, BEC
Total launches
  • 11:
  •     5 Blue Streak
  •     2 Blue Streak/Coralie
  •     3 Europa I
  •     1 Europa II
Success(es)4 (all Blue Streak)
Failure(s)
  • 7:
  •     1 Blue Streak
  •     2 Blue Streak/Coralie
  •     3 Europa I
  •     1 Europa II
First flightBlue Streak: 4 June 1964
Coralie: 4 August 1967
Europa I: 29 November 1968
Europa II: 5 November 1971
Last flightBlue Streak: 14 November 1966
Coralie: 4 December 1967
Europa I: 12 November 1970
Europa II: 5 November 1971
First stage – Blue Streak
Powered by2 × Rolls-Royce RZ.2
Maximum thrust1,673 kN (376,000 lbf)
Specific impulse282 s (2.77 km/s)
Burn time156 seconds
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
Second stage – Coralie
Powered by4 × LRBA Vexin-A
Maximum thrust270 kN (61,000 lbf)
Specific impulse277 s (2.72 km/s)
Burn time96 seconds
PropellantUDMH / N2O4
Third stage – Astris
Powered by1 × Astris
Maximum thrust23.3 kN (5,200 lbf)
Specific impulse310 s (3.0 km/s)
Burn time330 seconds
PropellantAerozine 50 / N2O4
Fourth stage (Europa II) – P068

The Europa rocket was an early expendable launch system of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), which was the precursor to the European Space Agency (ESA). It was developed with the aim to delivering space access technology, and more specifically to facilitate the deployment of European-wide telecommunication and meteorological satellites into orbit.

The program ultimately traces its history to the British Blue Streak missile, which was cancelled in 1960. Blue Streak was then used as the basis of the Black Prince expendable launch system and several other concepts. Looking for partners to share development costs, ELDO was formed and began development of the Europa using the Blue Streak first stage along with the French-built Coralie second stage and German Astris upper stage.[1]

The programme proceeded to perform multiple test launches but these frequently resulted in partial failures. In addition, Britain decided to pull out of the ELDO organisation, and thus Europa, to focus on the rival all-British Black Arrow launcher instead. Confidence in the programme had diminished due to the poor reliability figures, and this led to its termination.

Although the UK left the program, the other ELDO partners were still interested in a launcher. They re-formed as the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1974 and proceeded to develop the Ariane family of launchers, which would prove to be a commercial success with hundreds of launches performed.

  1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Europa". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 March 2002.