List of Thor-Able launches

Last updated

Rocket configurations

Launch outcome

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
  •   Success
  •   Failure

Orbit

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Function

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
  •   RTV test
  •   Lunar Orbit
  •   RVX test
  •   Radiation
  •   Navigation
  •   Scientific
  •   Weather

Launch history

Thor-Able II Transit 1A.jpg
Launch of the Transit 1A satellite
on a Thor-Able II
Function Expendable launch system
Sounding rocket
Manufacturer Douglas/Aerojet
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height26.9 metres (88 ft) – 27.8 metres (91 ft)
Diameter2.44 metres (8 ft 0 in)
Mass51,608 kilograms (113,776 lb)
Stages2–3
Capacity
Payload to 640km LEO
Mass120 kilograms (260 lb)
Associated rockets
Family Thor
Derivative work Thor-Ablestar
Delta
Comparable Luna
Launch history
Launch sites LC-17A, Canaveral
Total launches16
Success(es)10
Failure6
First flight24 April 1958
Last flight1 April 1960
Carries passengers or cargo Pioneer
Transit
Tiros
First stage – Thor
Powered by1 LR79-7
Maximum thrust758.71 kilonewtons (170,560 lbf)
Specific impulse 282 seconds (2.77 km/s)
Burn time165 seconds
Propellant RP-1/LOX
The date in this table comes from [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Date/Time
(GMT)		Rocket S/N Launch sitePayloadFunctionOrbitOutcomeRemarks
1958-04-24
00:10		 Thor DM-18 Able Thor 116CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalFailureMaiden flight of Thor-Able. Turbopump failure T+146 seconds.
1958-07-10
15:06		Thor DM-18 AbleThor 118CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalSuccess
1958-07-23
22:13		Thor DM-18 AbleThor 119CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalSuccessBiological nose cone containing a mouse. The nose cone sank into the ocean and was not recovered.
1958-08-17
12:18		 Thor DM-18 Able-I Thor 127CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 0 Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeFailureMaiden flight of Thor-Able I. First use of a Thor-based vehicle for an orbital launch. Turbopump failure, T+73,6 seconds.
1958-10-11
08:42:13		Thor DM-18 Able-IThor 130CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 1 Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeFailureThird stage underperformed
1958-11-08
08:42:13		Thor DM-18 Able-IThor 129CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 2 Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeFailureThird stage failed to ignite
1959-01-23Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 128CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalFailureThor portion of flight successful. Staging failed due to an electrical malfunction. Vehicle fell into the Atlantic Ocean.
1959-02-28
07:58		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 131CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalSuccess
1959-03-21
06:19		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 132CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalSuccess
1959-04-08
06:35		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 133CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalSuccess
1959-05-21
06:40		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 135CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalSuccess
1959-06-11
06:44		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 137CCAFS LC-17ARVX testSuborbitalSuccess
1959-08-07
14:24:20		Thor DM-18 Able-IIIThor 134CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 6 RadiationHEOSuccess
1959-09-17
14:34		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 136CCAFS LC-17A Transit 1A NavigationLEOFailureThird stage malfunctioned
1960-03-11
13:00		Thor DM-18 Able-IVThor 219CCAFS LC 17A Pioneer 5 ScientificHeliocentricSuccessOnly flight of Thor-Able IV
1960-04-01
11:40:09		Thor DM-18 Able-IIThor 148CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-1 WeatherSSOSuccessFinal flight of Thor-Able

See also

References

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Able". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  2. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  3. ↑ "Thor-DM18 Able". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  4. ↑ "Thor-DM18 Able-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  5. ↑ "Thor-DM18 Able-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  6. ↑ "Thor-DM18 Able-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  7. ↑ "Thor-DM18 Able-4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
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