Thor DSV-2

Last updated
Function Sounding rocket
Test vehicle
ASAT booster
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
Launch sites CCAFS LC-17
Johnston Atoll LE-1 & LE-2
VA LC-75
Total launches34
Success(es)28
Failure(s)6
[ edit on Wikidata]

The Thor DSV-2 was a series of sounding rockets, test vehicles, and anti-satellite weapons derived from the Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missile. It was also used as the first stage of several Thor-derived expendable launch systems. [1]

Contents

Variants

Thor DSV-2A

DSV-2A (Thor 385) launching a Transit satellite Thor Able Star with Transit VBN-2 Dec 5 1963.jpg
DSV-2A (Thor 385) launching a Transit satellite

The DSV-2A was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a DSV-2A / MB-3-II first stage, and an Able-Star / AJ10-104D second stage. [2] It was launched eight times between 1963 and 1965 from Vandenberg. [2]

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadResult
Thor 3751963-09-28VA LC-75 Transit 5BN-1 / Transit 5E-1Success
Thor 3851963-12-05VA LC-75Transit 5BN-2 / Transit 5E-3Success
Thor 3791964-04-21VA LC-75Transit 5BN-3 / Transit 5E-2Failure
Thor 4231964-10-06VA LC-75Transit-O 1/ Dragsphere 1 / Dragsphere 2
Thor 4271964-12-13VA LC-75Transit-O 2 / Transit 5E-5
Thor 4401965-03-11VA LC-75Transit-O 3 / SECOR 2 Partial success
Thor 4471965-06-24VA LC-75Transit-O 4
Thor 4551965-08-13VA LC-75Transit-O 5 / Dodecapole 2 / Long Rod / Tempsat 1 / Surcal 5 / Calsphere 2

Thor DSV-2D

Thor DSV-2D (Thor 278, unflown) Johnston Island, Program 437 Program 437 Thor missile.jpg
Thor DSV-2D (Thor 278, unflown) Johnston Island, Program 437

The DSV-2D was launched twice in 1962, [3] conducting suborbital research flights for the development of the Program 437 ASAT. It was a single-stage vehicle, consisting of a Thor DM-21. Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17A.

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadOrbit
Thor 3371962-01-15CCAFS LC-17ABig Shot 1 (AVT 1)Suborbital
Thor 3381962-07-18CCAFS LC-17ABig Shot 2 (AVT 2)Suborbital

Thor DSV-2E

The DSV-2E was a single-stage vehicle, using a Thor DM-19. It was launched eight times in 1962, including several nuclear weapons tests as part of Operation Fishbowl. [4] Four launches failed, all of which were carrying live nuclear warheads. [4] Launches were conducted from Launch Emplacements 1 and 2 on Johnston Atoll.

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadOrbitResult
Thor 1771962-05-02Johnston LE-1Tigerfish (R/D)SuborbitalSuccess
Thor 1991962-06-04Johnston LE-1 Bluegill SuborbitalRadar contact lost 5 minutes after launch. RSO destruct command sent.
Thor 1931962-06-20Johnston LE-1StarfishSuborbitalRVs 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.
Thor 1951962-07-09Johnston LE-1Starfish PrimeSuborbitalSuccess
Thor 1801962-07-26Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Prime SuborbitalStuck 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.
Thor 1561962-10-16Johnston LE-2 Bluegill Double Prime SuborbitalFlight control failure T+85 seconds. RSO T+156 seconds.
Thor 1411962-10-26Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Triple Prime SuborbitalSuccess
Thor 2261962-11-01Johnston LE-2KingfishSuborbitalSuccess

Thor DSV-2F

Thor DSV-2F (Thor 232) with ASSET-1 craft ASSET THOR.jpg
Thor DSV-2F (Thor 232) with ASSET-1 craft

The DSV-2F was a single-stage vehicle consisting of a Thor DM-19, like the DSV-2E. Three were launched between 1963 and 1964, as part of Project ASSET, [5] which involved launching a sub-scale mockup of the X-20 Dyna-Soar to test materials for the larger spacecraft. Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17B.

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadOrbitResult
Thor 2321963-09-18CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-1 (ASSET ASV 1) SuborbitalSuccess
Thor 2601964-10-28CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-4 (ASSET-AEV 1) SuborbitalSuccess
Thor 2471964-12-09CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-5 (ASSET-AEV 2) SuborbitalSuccess

Thor DSV-2G

The DSV-2G was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor DM-19 first stage, and a Delta second stage. Three were launched between 1964 and 1965 as part of Project ASSET. [6] Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17B.

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadOrbitResult
Thor 2401964-03-24CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-2 (ASSET-ASV 2) SuborbitalAtmospheric flight, second stage fired intermittently, destroyed by range safety
Thor 2501964-07-22CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-3 (ASSET-ASV 3) SuborbitalSuccess
Thor 2481965-02-23CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-6 (ASSET-ASV 4) SuborbitalSuccess

Thor DSV-2J

The DSV-2J was an operational nuclear anti-satellite weapon. 18 were launched between 1964 and 1975. [7] Most flights were non-intercept tests of the rocket's anti-satellite capabilities, however some later launches carried research payloads. Launches were conducted from Launch Emplacements 1 and 2 on Johnston Atoll.

S/N DateLaunch SitePayloadResult
Thor 29914.02.1964Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#1)Success
Thor 20902.03.1964Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#2)Success
Thor 29021.04.1964Johnston LE-2AFP-437 (#3)Success
Thor 22728.05.1964Johnston LE-2AFP-437 (#4)Failure
Thor 23616.11.1964Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#5)Success
Thor 15505.04.1965Johnston LE-2AFP-437 (#6)Success
Thor 18807.12.1965Johnston LE-2AFP-437AP (#1)Success
Thor 24218.01.1966Johnston LE-2AFP-437AP (#2)Success
Thor 19612.03.1966Johnston LE-2AFP-437AP (#3)Success
Thor 28902.07.1966Johnston LE-2AFP-437AP (#4)Success
Thor 16831.03.1967Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#7)Success
Thor 20514.05.1968Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#8)Success
Thor 25220.11.1968Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#9)Success
Thor 15227.03.1970Johnston LE-1AFP-437 (#10)Success
Thor 22524.04.1970Johnston LE-2SDPPartial Success
Thor 27124.09.1970Johnston LE-2HAP/SXRESuccess
Thor 20119.09.1975Johnston LE-2BMDTTP 1 (DG-5)Success
Thor 27406.11.1975Johnston LE-2BMDTTP 2 (DG-3)Success

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References

  1. ↑ "Thor Family". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  2. 1 2 "Thor-DSV2A Able-Star". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  3. ↑ "Thor-DSV2D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  4. 1 2 "Thor-DSV2E". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  5. ↑ "Thor-DSV2F". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  6. ↑ "Thor-LV2C Delta (Thor-DSV2G Delta)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ↑ "Thor-DSV2J". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
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