Delta C

Last updated
Thor Delta C with Explorer 18 (Nov. 27 1963).jpg
The first Delta C launches with Explorer 18
Has use Expendable launch system
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sites Cape Canaveral LC-17
Total launches13
Success(es)12
Failure(s)1
First flight27 November 1963
Last flight22 January 1969

The Delta C, or Thor-Delta C was an American expendable launch system used for thirteen orbital launches between 1963 and 1969. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets.

The first stage was a Thor missile in the DSV-2A configuration, and the second stage was the Delta D, which was derived from the earlier Delta. The baseline Delta C used an Altair-2 third stage, whilst the Delta C1 had an FW-4D third stage, which provided a higher payload capacity than the Altair. It is unclear whether two or three launches were made using the C1 configuration.

The Delta C was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17. Most launches carried NASA research satellites into low Earth orbit. [1] [2]

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References

  1. Wade, Mark. "Delta". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24.
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Family". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2021-12-21.