Engineering:List of Thor and Delta launches (1957–1959)

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Main page: Engineering:List of Thor and Delta launches
List of Thor and Delta launches
1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2029

Between 1957 and 1959, there were 79 Thor missiles launched, of which 51 were successful, giving a 64.5% success rate.

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

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Launch sites

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Launch outcomes

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1957

There were 9 Thor missiles launched in 1957. 4 of the 9 launches were successful, giving a 44.4% success rate.

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1957-01-26 Thor DM-18 Thor 101 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Maiden 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-18 Thor 102 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure RSO sent a mistaken destruct command at T+35 seconds due to an incorrect console readout.
1957-08-30 Thor DM-18 Thor 104 CCAFS LC-17A Missile test Suborbital Failure First launch from LC-17A. Control malfunction led to missile breakup at T+92 seconds.
1957-09-20 Thor DM-18 Thor 105 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1957-10-03
17:14
Thor DM-18 Thor 107 CCAFS LC-17A Missile test Suborbital Failure Stuck valve prevented the gas generator from starting. Missile fell back onto the pad and exploded.
1957-10-11
16:33
Thor DM-18 Thor 108 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Turbopump failure at T+152 seconds. Flight considered a "partial success".
1957-10-24
16:32
Thor DM-18 Thor 109 CCAFS LC-17A Missile test Suborbital Success
1957-12-07
22:11
Thor DM-18 Thor 112 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1957-12-19
20:12
Thor DM-18 Thor 113 CCAFS LC-17A Missile test Suborbital Success

1958

There were 20 Thor missiles launched in 1958. 8 of the 20 launches were successful, giving a 40% success rate.

Date/Time
(GMT)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1958-01-28
20:16
Thor DM-18 Thor 114 CCAFS LC-17A Missile test Suborbital Failure Electrical malfunction led to control failure. RSO T+152 seconds.
1958-02-28
13:08
Thor DM-18 Thor 120 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Premature engine shutdown at T+109 seconds.
1958-04-19
13:30
Thor DM-18 Thor 121 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Missile lost thrust and fell back onto the pad, exploding. Suspected fuel line obstruction.
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.
1958-06-04
21:17
Thor DM-18 Thor 115 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success First launch from LC-18B
1958-06-13
15:06
Thor DM-18 Thor 122 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1958-07-10
15:06
Thor DM-18 Able Thor 118 CCAFS LC-17A RTV test Suborbital Success
1958-07-13
06:36
Thor DM-18 Thor 123 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success Performance was normal through the boost phase, but the BECO and warhead separation signals were never received.
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.
1958-07-26
06:40
Thor DM-18 Thor 126 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure LOX valve malfunction led to loss of thrust and vehicle breakup at T+55 seconds
1958-08-06 Thor DM-18 Thor 117 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success Final flight of Thor DM-18 missile
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
1958-11-05
08:53
Thor DM-18A Thor 138 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Maiden flight of Thor DM-18A. Flight control failure. RSO T+45 seconds.
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
1958-11-26
09:09
Thor DM-18A Thor 140 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Partial failure Loss of guidance system power caused the missile to overshoot its target point by 22 miles.
1958-12-06
00:41
Thor DM-18A Thor 145 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Partial failure LOX tank pressurization failure led to loss of thrust. Missile impacted 20 miles short of the target point.
1958-12-16
23:44:45
Thor DM-18A Thor 151 Vandenberg Air Force Base LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital Success First Thor launch from Vandenberg AFB
1958-12-17
04:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 146 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1958-12-31
02:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 138 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Failure Flight control failure. RSO T+40 seconds.

1959

There were 50 Thor missiles launched in 1959. 39 of the 50 launches were successful, giving a 78% success rate.

Date/Time
(UTC)
Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
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.
1959-01-30
23:53
Thor DM-18A Thor 154 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-02-28
07:58
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 131 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-02-28
21:49:16
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 163
Agena 1022
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 1 Reconnaissance LEO Failure Maiden flight of Thor-Agena. Agena telemetry lost T+730 seconds. Fate of the payload unknown, but generally presumed to have impacted somewhere in Antarctica.
1959-03-21
06:19
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 132 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-03-22
00:58
Thor DM-18A Thor 158 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-03-27
04:02
Thor DM-18A Thor 162 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-04-08
06:35
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 133 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-04-13
21:18:39
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 170
Agena 1018
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 2 Reconnaissance LEO Success
1959-04-16
20:46
Thor DM-18A Thor 161 VAFB LC-75-2-8 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-04-23
05:30
Thor DM-18A Thor 176 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-04-25
05:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 164 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-05-12
17:35
Thor DM-18A Thor 187 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-05-21
06:40
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 135 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-05-23
02:42
Thor DM-18A Thor 184 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-06-03
20:09:20
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 174
Agena 1020
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 3 Reconnaissance LEO Failure Agena attitude control malfunction pointed the stage in the wrong direction, sending it into the Pacific Ocean rather than orbit.
1959-06-11
06:44
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 137 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Success
1959-06-16
21:45
Thor DM-18A Thor 191 VAFB LC-75-2-7 Missile test Suborbital Failure Pitch and roll program failed to initiate. RSO T+50 seconds.
1959-06-25
22:47:45
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 179
Agena 1023
VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 4 Reconnaissance LEO Failure Agena developed insufficient thrust to attain orbital velocity.
1959-06-26 Thor DM-18A Thor 198 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-06-30
02:37
Thor DM-18A Thor 194 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-07-21
07:33
Thor DM-18A Thor 203 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Failure Pitch and roll program failed to initiate. RSO T+40 seconds.
1959-07-24
12:47
Thor DM-18A Thor 202 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-08-03
21:41
Thor DM-18A Thor 175 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-08-06
02:48
Thor DM-18A Thor 208 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-08-07
14:24:20
Thor DM-18 Able-III Thor 134 CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 6 Radiation HEO Success
1959-08-13
19:00:08
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 192
Agena 1029
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 5 Reconnaissance LEO Success
1959-08-14
09:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 204 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-08-14
19:36:04
Thor DM-18A Thor 190 VAFB LC-75-2-6 Missile test Suborbital Partial failure Premature propellant depletion. Planned range not achieved.
1959-08-19
19:24:44
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 200
Agena 1028
VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 6 Reconnaissance LEO Success
1959-08-27
12:30
Thor DM-18A Thor 216 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-09-12 Thor DM-18A Thor 217 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-09-17
14:34
Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 136 CCAFS LC-17A Transit 1A Navigation LEO Failure Third stage malfunctioned
1959-09-17
21:09
Thor DM-18A Thor 228 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-09-22
18:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 222 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-10-06
16:41
Thor DM-18A Thor 235 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-10-06
18:26
Thor DM-18A Thor 239 VAFB LC-75-2-8 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-10-14
04:15
Thor DM-18A Thor 221 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-10-21
22:57
Thor DM-18A Thor 220 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-10-29
02:12
Thor DM-18A Thor 230 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-11-03 Thor DM-18A Thor 238 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-11-07
20:28:41
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 206
Agena 1051
VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 7 Reconnaissance LEO Success
1959-11-12
19:24
Thor DM-18A Thor 181 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-11-19 Thor DM-18A Thor 244 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-11-20
19:25:24
Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 212
Agena 1050
VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 8 Reconnaissance LEO Failure Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule
1959-12-01
17:00
Thor DM-18A Thor 254 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital Success
1959-12-02
05:29
Thor DM-18A Thor 265 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital Failure
1959-12-15
02:14
Thor DM-18A Thor 185 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital Failure Flight control failure. Missile broke up T+60 seconds.
1959-12-17 Thor DM-18A Thor 255 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Success

Images

See also