List of failed Thor and Delta launches

Last updated

This is a list of failed launches of rockets in the Thor and Delta rocket family. The Thor and Delta family rockets have had 51 complete failures, 10 partial failures, and 1 partial success, for a total of 62 unsuccessful Thor and Delta family missions. Since it has had 768 launches, this gives it a reliability of 91.9%, which puts it within the average range for rockets that started around the space age. [1]

Contents

Launch attempts

The data in this table comes from [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] in addition to the references listed within the table.

1957-1959

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch SitePayloadFunctionOrbitOutcomeRemarks
1957-01-26 Thor DM-18 Thor 101 CCAFS LC-17B Missile testSuborbitalFailureMaiden flight of Thor, first launch from LC-17. Contaminated LOX caused loss of thrust at liftoff. Vehicle fell back onto the pad and exploded.
1957-04-20
04:33
Thor DM-18Thor 102CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalFailureRSO sent a mistaken destruct command at T+35 seconds due to an incorrect console readout.
1957-08-30Thor DM-18Thor 104CCAFS LC-17A Missile testSuborbitalFailure
1957-10-03
17:14
Thor DM-18Thor 107CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbitalFailureStuck valve prevented the gas generator from starting. Missile fell back onto the pad and exploded.
1957-10-11
16:33
Thor DM-18Thor 108CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalPartial successTurbopump failure at T+152 seconds. Flight considered a "partial success".

1960-1969

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch SitePayloadFunctionOrbitOutcomeRemarks
1960-02-04
18:51:45
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 218
Agena 1052
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 9 ReconnaissanceLEOFailurePremature Thor cutoff. Agena could not attain orbital velocity.
1960-02-19
20:15:14
Thor DM-18 Agena-AThor 223
Agena 1054
VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 10 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureThor flight control malfunction. RSO T+52 seconds.
1960-05-13
09:16:05
Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 144
Delta 1
CCAFS LC-17A Echo 1 CommunicationMEOFailureMaiden flight of Thor-Delta, upper-stage attitude control system malfunctioned
1960-06-29
22:00:44
Thor DM-18 Agena-AThor 160
Agena 1053
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 12 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena attitude control malfunction.
1960-08-18
19:58
Thor DM-21 AblestarThor 262
Ablestar 004
CCAFS LC-17B Courier 1A CommunicationsLEOFailurePremature first stage cutoff. RSO T+150 seconds.
1960-10-26
20:26
Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 253
Agena 1061
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 16 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureMaiden flight of Thor-Agena B. Agena staging failed. Vehicle fell into the Pacific Ocean.
1960-11-30
19:50
Thor DM-21 AblestarThor 283
Ablestar 006
CCAFS LC-17B Transit 3A
GRAB-2 (Solrad-2)
Navigation
ELINT
LEOFailurePremature Thor cutoff. RSO. Debris fell in Cuba. [13]
1961-03-30
20:34:43
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 300
Agena 1105
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 22 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena control failure.
1961-06-08
21:16
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 302
Agena 1108
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 24 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena power failure
1961-07-21
22:35
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 322
Agena 1110
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 27 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureOpen circuit in guidance computer led to loss of control and vehicle breakup at T+60 seconds.
1961-08-04
00:01
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 309
Agena 1111
VAFB LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 28 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena control system malfunctioned
1961-10-23
19:23
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 329
Agena 1116
VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 33 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena hydraulics failure
1961-11-05
20:00
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 330
Agena 1117
VAFB LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 34 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureIncorrect guidance program left the satellite in a useless orbit.
1962-01-13
21:41
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 327
Agena 1120
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 37 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena restart burn failed.
1962-01-24
09:30
Thor DM-21 AblestarThor 311
Ablestar 010
CCAFS LC-17B LOFTI-2A
SECOR
GRAB-4 (Solrad 4)
Injun 2
SURCAL 1
Technology
Geodesy
ELINT
Ionospheric
Calibration
LEOFailureSecond stage insufficient thrust
1962-02-21
18:44
Thor DM-21 Agena-BThor 332
Agena 2301
VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 2301 ELINTLEOPartial failureUpper stage failed to restart for circularization burn
1962-05-10
12:06
Thor DM-21 AblestarThor 314
Ablestar 011
CCAFS LC-17B ANNA 1A GeodesyLEOFailureSecond stage failed to ignite
1962-06-04
09:44:17
Thor DSV-2EThor 199Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Nuclear testSuborbitalFailureRadar contact lost 5 minutes after launch. RSO destruct command sent.
1962-06-20
08:46:16
Thor DSV-2EThor 193Johnston LE-1 STARFISH Nuclear testSuborbitalFailureRVs caused turbine exhaust gas to enter the thrust section, overheating and weakening the engine mounts. Engine broke loose and ruptured the propellant tanks T+59 seconds. Warhead destroyed by RSO T+65 seconds.
1962-07-26
09:13:53
Thor DSV-2EThor 180Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Prime Nuclear testSuborbitalFailureStuck LOX valve caused loss of thrust and fire on the launch stand. Range Safety Officer destroyed the missile and warhead. Launch area extensively contaminated with plutonium.
1962-10-16

09:14:38

Thor DSV-2EThor 156Johnston LE-2 Bluegill Double Prime Nuclear testSuborbitalFailureFlight control failure T+85 seconds. RSO T+156 seconds.
1963-02-28
21:48
TAT SLV-2A Agena-D Thor 354
Agena 1159
VAFB LC-75-3-5 OPS 0583 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureMaiden flight of Thrust-Augmented Thor Agena. One SRB failed to ignite and subsequently separate from the vehicle, resulting in loss of control and self-destruct T+127 seconds.
1963-03-18
21:13
TAT SLV-2A Agena-DThor 360
Agena 1164
VAFB LC-75-3-4 OPS 0627 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureElectrical short at staging causes loss of Agena control and no orbit.
1963-04-26
20:13
Thor DM-21 Agena-DThor 372
Agena 1411
VAFB LC-75-1-1 OPS 1008 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAttitude sensor alignment error results in no Agena orbit.
1963-11-09
20:27:54
Thor SLV-2 Agena-DThor 400
Agena 1171
VAFB LC-75-1-2 OPS 2268 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureLoss of heat shield causes high thrust section temperatures. Control loss at T+113 seconds followed by propulsion system shutdown.
1964-03-19
11:13:41
Delta BThor 391
Delta 24
CCAFS LC-17A BE-A IonosphericLEOFailureThird stage underperformed
1964-03-24
12:15
Thor DSV-2GThor 240CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-2 REV testSuborbitalFailureAtmospheric flight, second stage fired intermittently, destroyed by range safety
1964-03-24
22:22:48
TAT SLV-2A Agena-DThor 396
Agena 1175
Arguello LC-1-1 OPS 3467 ReconnaissanceLEOFailureAgena power failure. No orbit.
1964-04-21
18:50
Thor DSV-2A AblestarThor 379
Ablestar 014
VAFB LC-75-1-1 Transit 5BN-3
Transit 5E-4
NavigationLEOFailure
1964-05-28
07:32
Thor DSV-2JThor 227Johnston LE-2ASAT testSuborbitalFailure
1964-08-28
07:56:57
Thor SLV-2 Agena-BThor 399
Agena 6201
TA-3
VAFB LC-75-1-1 Nimbus 1 WeatherLEOPartial failureSecond-stage cutoff early during second burn
1964-10-04
03:45:00
Delta CThor 392
Delta 26
CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 21 MagnetosphericHEOPartial failureReached lower than planned orbit
1965-01-19
05:03
Thor MG-18 Thor 224VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-3B-F1 Military weather satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOPartial failureMaiden flight of the Thor-Burner series. Satellite failed to separate from the upper stage, but the satellite was able to operate for 6 months.
1965-09-02
20:00
Thor DM-21 Agena-DThor 401
Agena 1602
VAFB LC-75-3-5 MPRV Upper atmosphere and space experimentsplanned: MEOFailureHigh winds caused the vehicle to drift off course. RSO T+43 seconds. Debris fell on a trailer park.
1966-01-08
04:48
Thor Burner 1 Thor 251VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-3B-F5 Military weather satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailureFW-4S second-stage motor failed to ignite.
1966-05-03
19:25
TAT SLV-2A Agena-DThor 465
Agena 1625
VAFB LC-75-3-5OPS 1508 (KH-4A #1032)Reconnaissanceplanned: LEOFailureAgena failed to separate from the Thor at staging. Vehicle fell into the Pacific Ocean.
1967-05-09
21:50
Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 508
Agena 1634
VAFB SLC-1E KH-4A (S/N 1041)/SRV S/N 731 Reconnaissanceplanned: LEOPartial failureRocket failed to cut off, resulting in incorrect, but usable orbit
1968-05-18
08:23
Thorad SLV-2G Agena-DThor 520
Agena 6221
VAFB SLC-2E Nimbus B/EGRS-10 Weather Satellite / Geodesic research satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailureIncorrectly installed yaw gyro led to loss of control. RSO T+101 seconds.
1968-09-19
00:09
Delta M Thor 529
Delta 59
CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-1 Communication Satelliteplanned: GTOFailurePitch gyroscope failure led to loss of control starting at T+20 seconds. RSO T+110 seconds.
1969-07-26
02:06
Delta M Thor 547
Delta 71
CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-5 Communication Satelliteplanned: GTOPartial failureStage 3 motor case ruptured, leaving spacecraft in unusable orbit
1969-08-27
21:59
Delta L Thor 540
Delta 73
CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer E / TTS-3 Interplanetary space research probe / Technology demonstration satelliteplanned: HeliocentricFailureDefective valve in Stage 1 caused a hydraulic fluid leak and loss of engine gimbaling at T+220 seconds, making it impossible for the second stage to reach orbit. RSO T+480 seconds.

1970-1979

Date/Time

(UTC)

Rocket S/N Launch SitePayloadFunctionOrbitOutcomeRemarks
1970-04-24Thor DSV-2JThor 225Johnston LE-1Satellite Inspection testSuborbitalFailureThor rocket collided with the satellite.
1971-02-17
20:04
Thorad SLV-2H Agena-DThor 537
Agena 1659
VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1113) ReconnaissanceLEOFailureImproper pre-flight procedure caused frozen lubricant to form a plug that resulted in complete turbopump failure 18 seconds after liftoff. The booster lost thrust and impacted the ground not far from the launch complex.
1971-10-21
11:32
Delta N6Delta 86
Thor 572
VAFB SLC-2E ITOS-B Weather Satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailure2nd stage oxidizer leak starting at T+20 seconds. The attitude control system ran out of propellant trying to correct the stage's flight path and the launch vehicle reentered the atmosphere and broke up above the Arctic Circle.
1973-07-16
17:10
Delta 300 Delta 96
Thor 578
VAFB SLC-2W ITOS-E Weather Satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailureHydraulic pump malfunction led to failure of the 2nd stage attitude control system. The booster and payload reentered the atmosphere and broke up.
1974-01-19
01:38
Delta 2313 Delta 100
Thor 587
CCAFS SLC-17B Skynet-2A Military communication satelliteplanned: GTOFailureFirst flight of the Delta 2000 series. Stage 2 electronics package short circuited (induced by a piece of conductive contaminant shaken loose during launch), leading to loss of control.
1976-02-19
07:52
Thor Burner 2A Thor 182VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F3 Military weather satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailureThor stage not loaded with enough kerosene fuel due to incorrect LR79 main engine data sheet entry. Satellite re-entered after one orbit.
1977-04-20
10:15
Delta 2914 Delta 130
Thor 617
CCAFS SLC-17B ESA-GEOS-1 Magnetosphere research satelliteplanned: GTOPartial failurePremature separation of second and third stages led to failure of Stage 3 spin up.
1977-09-13
23:21
Delta 3914 Delta 134
Thor 619
CCAFS SLC-17A OTS-1 Experimental communication satelliteplanned: GTOFailureLaunch vehicle exploded at T+52 seconds due to a rupture of the SRM #1 casing.
1979-02-06
08:46
N-I N-5 (F)Tanegashima SLC-N ECS-A (Ayame 1)Experimental communication satelliteplanned: GTOFailureRecontact between satellite and upper stage.

1980-1989

Date/Time

(UTC)

Rocket S/N Launch SitePayloadFunctionOrbitOutcomeRemarks
1980-07-15
02:22
Thor DSV-2U Thor 304VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5D-F5 Military weather satelliteplanned: LEO / SSOFailureFinal flight of the Long Tank Thor. Failure attributed to faulty connection between second and third stages, resulting in third stage not receiving electrical power.
1986-05-03
22:18
Delta 3914178 CCAFS LC-17A GOES-G Weather Satelliteplanned: GTO FailureElectric failure in first stage caused the rocket to lose control and was destroyed 90 seconds into flight

1990-1999

Date / time (UTC)Rocket

Configuration

Launch sitePayloadPayload massOrbitCustomerOutcomeRemarks
5 August 1995
11:10
Delta II 7925–9.5 CCAFS, LC-17B Koreasat 1 711 kg GTO KT Corporation Partial failure Communications satellite, One SRB failed to separate, retarding the booster's orbital velocity. Spacecraft eventually reached correct orbit but with substantially shortened operational life.
January 17, 1997
16:28
Delta II 7925–9.5CCAFS LC-17A GPS IIR-1 2,030 kgPlanned:
MEO
US Air Force FailureExploded 13 seconds after launch due to SRB failure. [14] Navigation satellite
August 27, 1998
01:17
Delta III 8930CCAFS SLC-17B Galaxy 10 700 kg GTO PanAmSat / Intelsat FailureMaiden flight of Delta III, Destroyed by range safety after control problems and depletion of hydraulic fluid, Communications satellite
May 5, 1999
01:00
Delta III 8930CCAFS SLC-17B Orion 3 4,300 kg GTO Loral FailureSecond stage engine failure. Payload placed into LEO, Communications satellite

Since 2000

Date / time (UTC)Rocket,
Configuration
Launch sitePayloadPayload massOrbitCustomerLaunch
outcome
Remarks
August 23, 2000
11:05
Delta III 8930CCAFS SLC-17B DM-F3 4383 kg GTO US Air Force Partial failure [15] Reached lower than planned orbit, final flight of Delta III, Demosat
December 21, 2004
21:50
Delta IV Heavy CCAFS SLC-37B DemoSat [16] / 3CS-1 / 3CS-2 >6020 kg GSO (planned)Partial failure [17] Demonstration payload, Payloads did not reach correct orbits, First Delta IV Heavy launch

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