

Lebanon's forgotten "Cedar" rocket program Norbert Brügge, Germany



In 1961, a group of Armenian-Lebanese mathematicians, physicists and engineers, mainly from the Haigazian University in Beirut, dubbed the Lebanese Rocket Society and attempted to launch rockets into space. The group of scientists manufactured rockets, which they christened Cedar, and conducted several trials. The rocket launches, cast as Lebanon's contribution to the worldwide race to conquer space, captured newspaper headlines, and the Lebanese Rocket Society's mad venture was subsequently adopted by the Lebanese army. In 1967, shortly after the Arab states waged a military confrontation with Israel, the program was brought to an abrupt halt, the laboratory was shut down, and the story of the Lebanese Rocket Society was seemingly forgotten forever.



The History

( Main source : Prof. Manoug Manougian (former head of the Lebanese Rocket Society), University of South Florida,Tampa, 25 May 2011)



In April 1961 was prepared a rocket of 1.75-meters length. It was selected Kchag in the Ain Saade area for the launch. Although the rocket performed successfully, reaching an altitude of about 1,000 meters. In May 1961, a second similar rocket was launched on Sannine. It soared about 2,300 meters. The rockets were named Cedar-1.



It following experiments with multi-stage rockets. The engineers devised a system that would separate the first and second stages while in flight. In September 1961, under the supervision of the Lebanese army was successfully launched a two-stage, 2.85-meter rocket. The rocket was named Cedar-2. The first stage had a 10-cm diameter, while the second had a 7.5cm diameter. The rocket rose to a height of about 2,500 meters.



- The Cedar-2 series (-2A, -2B, and -2C) proved that we had a viable and safe propellant.

- The rocket design functioned well and the device for separation of stages in flight was perfected.

- An area overlooking the Mediterranean in Dbayeh was assigned as permanent launch site.

- As a result of national interest in the study of rocketry, the Lebanese Rocket Society (LRS) was formed. It following the construction and launch of three-stage high altitude rockets. These produced Cedar-3 and Cedar-4 rocket was a cooperative effort between Haigazian College Rocket Society (HCRS), LRS and the Lebanese Army. Cedar-3 was launched on Nov. 21, 1962. Cedar-4 was launched on Nov. 21, 1963. Cedar-3 was 6.8 m long 0.52 m dia total mass 1250 kg full. Cedar-4 appears to have used a different first stage, longer and thinner, perhaps the same diameter as the second stage. Cedar-4 reached an altitude of 145 km.



The program for 1964 to 1966 involved the construction of more powerful and reliable rockets to perform telecommunication experiments. Propellants were received from France. The first step was to conduct static tests that were performed in Dbayeh. Static tests involve holding a rocket in place without flight, ignite the propellant, and measure the characteristics of the propellant, the nozzle, and the metal used for the body of the rocket.



On Sept. 23, 1964, was launched Cedar-6. This was a 3-meter rocket equipped with electronic instruments in the nose cone. Cedar 6 flew to an altitude of 14 km.



On May 12, 1966, Cedar-7 was ready to be launched. This was a two-stage rocket with a payload of 20 kilograms designed to fly to an altitude of 70 kilometers, with a range of about 100 kilometers. It carried instruments to study rocket design, telemetry and recording. At ignition, Cedar 7 exploded on the ramp.



The Cedar-8 was a two-stage rocket with a maximum altitude of 110 km. The launch on Aug. 04, 1966, was successful. The 350-kg rocket was 5.7 m long.



Cedar-3



Seven nozzles, similar as German "Rheintochter"







Cedar-4



Cedar-4 launch

Launch date Cedar-1 xx.04.1961 small one-stage low altitude rocket Cedar-2 xx.05.1961 small two-stage low altitude rockets Cedar-2A Cedar-2B Cedar-2C Cedar-3 21.11.1962 three-stage rocket, short seven-nozzle booster Cedar-4 21.11.1963 three-stage rocket, longer one-nozzle booster Cedar-5 ? Cedar-6 32.09.1964 one-stage rocket Cedar-7 12.05.1966 two-stage rocket, booster similar Cedar-3 (?) Cedar-8 04.08.1966 two-stage rocket, 110 km altitude



Cedar-6, -7 and -8 rockets



One-stage rocket Cedar-6



Cedar-6



Two-stage rocket Cedar-7 explodes on ramp

