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Thor-Able

The Thor-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.

Missions: 7
Successes: 3
Partial Failures: 1
Failures: 3
Success Streak: 2
Success Rate: 50.0%
Wiki

Configurations

Thor DM-18 Able-I
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Payload to LEO: 120 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 27.0 m
Thor DM-18 Able-II
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Thor DM-18 Able-III
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Thor DM-18 Able-IV
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0

Launch Sites

SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Launches

US Air Force
Thor DM-18 Able-II | TIROS-1
Fri Apr 01, 1960 11:40 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
US Air Force
Thor DM-18 Able-IV | Pioneer 5
Fri Mar 11, 1960 13:00 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
US Air Force
Thor DM-18 Able-II | Transit 1A
Thu Sep 17, 1959 14:34 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
US Air Force
Thor DM-18 Able-III | Explorer 6
Fri Aug 07, 1959 14:24 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
NASA
Thor DM-18 Able-I | Pioneer 2
Sat Nov 08, 1958 07:30 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
NASA
Thor DM-18 Able-I | Pioneer 1
Sat Oct 11, 1958 08:42 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
US Air Force
Thor DM-18 Able-I | Pioneer 0
Sun Aug 17, 1958 12:18 UTC
SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA