posted 12-08-2020 02:01 PM               

Space Cover 588: Veronique Rocket

The story of Operation Paperclip that brought Wehner von Braun and members of his rocket team to the United States is fairly well known. Also, fairly well known is that other members of the von Braun team performed rocket research for the Russians — initially remaining in Germany and then sent to work in Russia.

Typically unknown is that a smaller group of about 30 German engineers performed rocket research in Vernon, France for the French Laboratoire de Recherches Ballistiques et Aerodynamiques (LRBA).

Research began with the "Super V-2" project in the period of 1946-1948. A lack of V-2 parts - as most V-2 components were captured by the US and Russia prevented the completion of the planned 30 V-2 rockets.

The German team at Vernon then moved to pursue development of a tenth-scale version, the Project 4213 Veronique (VERnon et electrONIQUE). The 4 metric ton thrust motor, using nitric acid and kerosene, beat the "pure French" project 4211 Eole design and paved the way leading to the Ariane space booster used in today's launches.

Development of the Veronique began in March 1949, with the primary objective of providing a flight test vehicle for liquid rocket engine development. A secondary objective was to launch scientific payloads to high altitudes. The simple vehicle would be wire-guided at launch via four 55 meter cables attached to the fins. Following partial systems tests with several vehicles in 1951 to 1952, the first full-scale Veronique-N was launched in May 1952 to April 1953 in three test series.

A knotty combustion instability problem led to many failures, and the design altitude of 65 kilo-meter was found by French scientists to be insufficient for their studies. The French National Defense Scientific Action Committee had ordered the manufacturing of 15 Veroniques for the 1957-58 International Geophysical Year, but these were cancelled and replaced by the solid-propellant Monica rocket.

After a nine-year development program the much larger Veronique-61 emerged as the final version of the rocket.

Pictured above is an image of a cover for the GESAIR Biological/Geophysics mission that was launched aboard a Veronique 61M rocket on June 12, 1971. The launch took place from launch complex Kourou ALFS ("Aire de Lancement de Fusée-Sondes," Sounding rocket launch area) at the French launch site at Kourou in French Guiana on the coast of South America. This cover was produced by space cover dealer Lollini.

Today, the main launches from Kourou are unmanned satellites aboard Ariane rockets at a rate of roughly one to two launches per month.

posted 12-09-2020 08:12 PM               

Of the 6,000 main German V-2 team of scientists, engineers, and technicians that evacuated Peenemunde in 1945, about 90 of them, as Tom mentioned, were in France at Vernon working on the Veronique sounding rocket program throughout the late 1940's and early 1950's.

I've often wondered if any postal covers had been processed for any of those pioneering French rocket flights during that era (perhaps Lollini knows)?

In addition, were any of those early French rocket commemorative covers, if done, had been autographed by some of the key German Veronique rocket development and launch team personnel.

Names such as Heinz Bringer, an original A4 rocket motor expert, guidance control specialist Otto Muller, and Helmut Habermann, a rocket electronics expert, were only a few of the main players working on the V-2 look-alike Veronique rocket program in France.

Another German team of 50 skilled V-2 trained engineers, I think in 1946, started working for rocket pioneer Dr. Eugen Sanger, developer of the first hypersonic aircraft, for the French Air Ministry on rocket-powered jet aircraft.

posted 12-19-2020 04:19 AM               

As well referred this period involved countries as USA, USSR, Great Britain and France, where these German rocket pioneers were developing its works.

Fortunately increasing contributions give light to this dark period full of shadows, mysteries and secrets.

Referring to Veronique rocket launches:

As long I know, French dealer Lollini covered just last years from French rocket launches. So, not seen yet covers from Lollini for 50's or 60's French rocket launches.

For this reason, I am always searching for French rocket launch covers not produced for Lollini firma. Below, two examples:

Apr 9, 1968 Kourou. Veronique AGI rocket.
AGI stands for IGY in French.

Please note as meter is inverted with respect to cover shown by Tom. Cancel pmk is on the right and applied on stamps difficult a lot the chance to read the date.

Apr 17, 1973 Kourou. Veronique AGI 61 rocket

posted 12-22-2020 03:20 AM               

So, I am sure this is not a complete info and maybe some French astrophilatelist could supply us further details.

Before Algeria independence (01 July 1967) France used the space place of Hammaguir and when left this country, the new place of Kourou.

Veronique rocket was the last launch from Hammaguir and the first one from Kouru.

04 April 1967 Hammaguir (with postmark Poste aux Armées). Veronique rocket with biology exp.

09 April 1968 Kourou. Veronique rocket (in my previous post pictured this cover).

For both launches there are covers. Very difficult to find and very expensive all covers from Hammaguir, and uncommon for first Kourou launches.

In both cases covers were not produced by Lollini.

First cover produced by Lollini concerning a Veronique rocket is dated 18 Oct 1963 Hammaguir, for 1st cat Felix in space. This cover is listed as K36929Z with current price at his webpage of 800 EUR.

No other covers for Veronique rockets were produced by Lollini until 1970 (if produced, then not listed in any of their catalogs).

LRBA, located in Vernon (Eure), was in charge for developping the Veronique rocket. It would be possible that some cover exist with appropiate launch date. If not, this period from 1948 onwards can be treated as V-2 rocket during WWII, with covers from military units involved in rocketry.

In summary:

• 1948-1962 Not covers known for Veronique rockets launched in Vernon (tests) or Hammaguir.
  
• 1963 Oct 18. Cover from Lollini for Felix chat
  
• 1964-1967. There are several covers for Veronique rockets launched from Hammaguir. They are scarce and expensive.
  
• 1968-1970. Veronique rockets launched from Kourou. Supposed to exist covers as mine.
  
• 1970-1975. Veronique rockets launched from Kourou with covers produced by Lollini.