Engineering:List of Thor-Able launches

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List of Thor-Able launches
Thor-Able II Transit 1A.jpg
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 LEO120 kilograms (260 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyThor
DerivativesThor-Ablestar
Delta
ComparableLuna
Launch history
Launch sitesLC-17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Total launches16
Successes10
Failures6
First flight24 April 1958
Last flight1 April 1960
Notable payloadsPioneer
Transit
Tiros
First stage – Thor
Engines1 LR79-7
Thrust758.71 kilonewtons (170,560 lbf)
Specific impulse282 seconds (2.77 km/s)
Burn time165 seconds
FuelRP-1/LOX
Second stage – Able
Engines1 AJ-10
Thrust34.69 kilonewtons (7,800 lbf)
Specific impulse270 seconds (2.6 km/s)
Burn time115 seconds
FuelHNO3/UDMH
Third stage (optional) – Altair
Engines1 X-248
Thrust12.45 kilonewtons (2,800 lbf)
Specific impulse256 seconds (2.51 km/s)
Burn time38 seconds
FuelSolid

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

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Launch outcome

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Orbit

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Function

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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