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]
 | |
| Function | Expendable launch system Sounding rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Douglas/Aerojet |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 26.9 metres (88 ft) – 27.8 metres (91 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.44 metres (8 ft 0 in) |
| Mass | 51,608 kilograms (113,776 lb) |
| Stages | 2–3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to 640km LEO | |
| Mass | 120 kilograms (260 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Thor |
| Derivative work | Thor-Ablestar Delta |
| Comparable | Luna |
| Launch history | |
| Launch sites | LC-17A, Canaveral |
| Total launches | 16 |
| Success(es) | 10 |
| Failure(s) | 6 |
| First flight | 24 April 1958 |
| Last flight | 1 April 1960 |
| Type of passengers/cargo | Pioneer Transit Tiros |
| First stage – Thor | |
| Powered by | 1 LR79-7 |
| Maximum thrust | 758.71 kilonewtons (170,560 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 282 seconds (2.77 km/s) |
| Burn time | 165 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Second stage – Able | |
| Powered by | 1 AJ-10 |
| Maximum thrust | 34.69 kilonewtons (7,800 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 270 seconds (2.6 km/s) |
| Burn time | 115 seconds |
| Propellant | HNO3/UDMH |
| Third stage (optional) – Altair | |
| Powered by | 1 X-248 |
| Maximum thrust | 12.45 kilonewtons (2,800 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 256 seconds (2.51 km/s) |
| Burn time | 38 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
Launch statistics
editRocket configurations
editOrbit
edit- Suborbital
- High altitude
- HEO
- LEO
- Heliocentric
- SSO
Function
editLaunch history
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Able". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Able". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Able-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Able-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Able-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Able-4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-08-03.