List of Thor-Able launches

Launch of the Transit 1A satellite
on a Thor-Able II
FunctionExpendable launch system
Sounding rocket
ManufacturerDouglas/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
FamilyThor
Derivative workThor-Ablestar
Delta
ComparableLuna
Launch history
Launch sitesLC-17A, Canaveral
Total launches16
Success(es)10
Failure(s)6
First flight24 April 1958
Last flight1 April 1960
Type of passengers/cargoPioneer
Transit
Tiros
First stage – Thor
Powered by1 LR79-7
Maximum thrust758.71 kilonewtons (170,560 lbf)
Specific impulse282 seconds (2.77 km/s)
Burn time165 seconds
PropellantRP-1/LOX
Second stage – Able
Powered by1 AJ-10
Maximum thrust34.69 kilonewtons (7,800 lbf)
Specific impulse270 seconds (2.6 km/s)
Burn time115 seconds
PropellantHNO3/UDMH
Third stage (optional) – Altair
Powered by1 X-248
Maximum thrust12.45 kilonewtons (2,800 lbf)
Specific impulse256 seconds (2.51 km/s)
Burn time38 seconds
PropellantSolid
[edit on Wikidata]

The Thor-Able (Thor DM-18-Able) was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960. It was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. On some flights, an Altair solid rocket motor was added as a third stage. It was a member of the Thor family and an early predecessor of the Delta.[1][2]

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

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

The date in this table comes from[3][4][5][6][7]
Date/Time
(GMT) 		Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1958-04-24
00:10 		Thor DM-18 Able Thor 116 CCAFS LC-17A RTV test Suborbital Failure Maiden flight of Thor-Able. Turbopump failure T+146 seconds.
1958-07-10
15:06 		Thor DM-18 Able Thor 118 CCAFS LC-17A RTV test Suborbital Success
1958-07-23
22:13 		Thor DM-18 Able Thor 119 CCAFS LC-17A RTV test Suborbital Success Biological 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 127 CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 0 Lunar orbiter High Altitude Failure Maiden 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-I Thor 130 CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 1 Lunar orbiter High Altitude Failure Third stage underperformed
1958-11-08
08:42:13 		Thor DM-18 Able-I Thor 129 CCAFS LC-17A Pioneer 2 Lunar orbiter High Altitude Failure Third stage failed to ignite
1959-01-23 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 128 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Failure Thor 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-II Thor 131 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-03-21
06:19 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 132 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-04-08
06:35 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 133 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-05-21
06:40 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 135 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-06-11
06:44 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 137 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-08-07
14:24:20 		Thor DM-18 Able-III Thor 134 CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 6 Radiation HEO Success
1959-09-17
14:34 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 136 CCAFS LC-17A Transit 1A Navigation LEO Failure Third stage malfunctioned
1960-03-11
13:00 		Thor DM-18 Able-IV Thor 219 CCAFS LC 17A Pioneer 5 Scientific Heliocentric Success Only flight of Thor-Able IV
1960-04-01
11:40:09 		Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 148 CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-1 Weather SSO Success Final 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.