Engineering:Delta B
.png) Delta B prior to the launch of TIROS-8 | |
| Function | Expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 800 pounds (360 kg)[1] |
| Payload to Earth escape trajectory | 130 pounds (59 kg)[1] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired[2] |
| Launch sites | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-17[3] |
| Total launches | 9 |
| Successes | 8 |
| Failures | 1 |
| First flight | 13 December 1962 |
| Last flight | 19 March 1964 |
The Delta B, or Thor-Delta B was an American expendable launch system used for nine orbital launches between 1962 and 1964.[3] A derivative of the Thor-Delta, it was a member of the Delta family of rockets.[4]
The first stage was a Thor missile in the DM-21 configuration, and the second stage was the AJ10-118,[1] which was derived from the earlier Delta-A.[4] An Altair solid rocket motor was used as a third stage.[1]
All nine launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17.[3] Most of the launches carried communications satellites, including Syncom-1[2] and Syncom-2.[2] Syncom-1 was intended to be the first satellite to be placed into a geosynchronous orbit, however the spacecraft malfunctioned prior to reaching this orbit.[5] Syncom-2 subsequently became the first geosynchronous satellite,[5] and was placed at 55° west of the Greenwich Meridian. The final launch failed due to third stage underperformance,[6] all other launches were successful.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Template:Cite tech report
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wade, Mark. "Thor Delta B". http://www.astronautix.com/t/thordeltab.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Krebs, Gunter D.. "Delta B". https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/delta-b.htm.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Graham, William (September 13, 2018). "The evolution of Thor – Delta II prepares for swansong". NASASpaceflight.com: p. 2. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/09/evolution-thor-delta-swansong/2/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Template:Cite tech report
- ↑ "Satellite Rocket Failure Ends Winning Streak". Corpus Christi Times. Associated Press (Cape Kennedy): p. 1. March 19, 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-satellite-rocket-fa/125615928/.
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