Emeraude

Pierres Précieuses (Precious Stones) series

Mission Profile

Emeraude was a French single-stage ballistic missile test vehicle developed as part of the Pierres Precieuses (Precious Stones) program, a series of progressively more capable rockets that formed the technological foundation of France's independent space program. Standing 8.5 meters tall and weighing 3,870 kg at launch, it generated 166 kN of thrust and first flew in June 1964. The Emeraude and its sister vehicles — including Véronique, Saphir, and Diamant — provided critical propulsion and guidance data that enabled France to become the third nation to independently achieve orbital spaceflight. The Pierres Précieuses program stands as one of the most systematic and successful national rocket development efforts of the early Space Age.