Diamant B launch, Kourou, 1970

On 12 December 1970, a Diamant B rocket launched the French Péole satellite into orbit. Diamant was the first exclusively French expendable launch system and the first satellite launcher not built by either the USA or the Soviet Union. Diamant A was first launched in 1965, and the Diamant B was an improved version of the Diamant A with a more powerful first stage, first launched in March 1970.