Delta C
Delta C no. 29
Orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1963. Family: Delta. Country: USA. Status: Out of production.

Unaugmented Thor with Delta D and solid propellant upper stages.

Manufacturer: Douglas. Launches: 13. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 92.31%. First Launch Date: 1963-11-27. Last Launch Date: 1969-01-22. Launch data is: complete. Payload: 82 kg (180 lb). to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Associated Spacecraft: AE, EPE, IMP, OSO, Tiros. Liftoff Thrust: 667.200 kN (149,993 lbf). Total Mass: 51,285 kg (113,064 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 31.00 m (101.00 ft). Flyaway Unit Cost $: 9.590 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.


Model: Thor Delta C. Family: Delta. Country: USA.

3 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DSV-2A + 1 x Delta D + 1 x Altair 2

Apogee: 100,000 km (60,000 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 756.000 kN (169,955 lbf). Total Mass: 52,000 kg (114,000 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 27.50 m (90.20 ft).


Model: Thor Delta C1. Family: Delta. Country: USA.

3 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DSV-2A + 1 x Delta D + 1 x FW4D

Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 756.000 kN (169,955 lbf). Total Mass: 52,000 kg (114,000 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 27.50 m (90.20 ft).


Stage Data - Delta C
  • Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Thor DM-21. Gross Mass: 48,354 kg (106,602 lb). Empty Mass: 2,948 kg (6,499 lb). Thrust (vac): 760.643 kN (170,999 lbf). Isp: 285 sec. Burn time: 164 sec. Isp(sl): 250 sec. Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Span: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Length: 18.41 m (60.40 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: MB-3-1.
  • Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Delta D. Gross Mass: 2,693 kg (5,937 lb). Empty Mass: 545 kg (1,201 lb). Thrust (vac): 33.695 kN (7,575 lbf). Isp: 278 sec. Burn time: 170 sec. Isp(sl): 0 sec. Diameter: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Span: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Length: 5.58 m (18.30 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: AJ10-118D.
  • Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: Altair 1. Gross Mass: 238 kg (524 lb). Empty Mass: 30 kg (66 lb). Thrust (vac): 12.450 kN (2,799 lbf). Isp: 256 sec. Burn time: 38 sec. Isp(sl): 233 sec. Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Span: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Length: 1.83 m (6.00 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: X-248.

Delta C Chronology

1963 November 27 - 02:30 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 387/D21.

  • Explorer 18 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: IMP A. Mass: 62 kg (136 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: IMP. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Apogee: 197,616 km (122,792 mi). Inclination: 33.30 deg. Period: 5,666.20 min. COSPAR: 1963-046A. USAF Sat Cat: 693. Decay Date: 1965-11-30. Radiation data; Interplanetary Monitoring Program. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1964 October 4 - 03:45 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 392/D26.
  • Explorer 21 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: IMP B. Mass: 62 kg (136 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: IMP. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 191 km (118 mi). Apogee: 95,590 km (59,390 mi). Inclination: 33.50 deg. Period: 2,097.00 min. COSPAR: 1964-060A. USAF Sat Cat: 889. Decay Date: 1965-12-31. Lower than planned orbit. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1964 December 21 - 09:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 393/D27.
  • Explorer 26 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: EPE D - 661A Flight 21-3. Mass: 46 kg (101 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: EPE. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 284 km (176 mi). Apogee: 10,043 km (6,240 mi). Inclination: 19.80 deg. Period: 205.70 min. COSPAR: 1964-086A. USAF Sat Cat: 963. Decay Date: 1978-03-31. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 January 22 - 07:52 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 374/D28.
  • Tiros 9 Nation: USA. Program: Tiros. Payload: Tiros I (A-54). Mass: 138 kg (304 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: Tiros. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 705 km (438 mi). Apogee: 2,563 km (1,592 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 119.00 min. COSPAR: 1965-004A. USAF Sat Cat: 978. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 February 3 - 16:36 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 411/D29.
  • OSO 2 Nation: USA. Payload: OSO B2 (S-17). Mass: 247 kg (544 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: OSO. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 294 km (182 mi). Apogee: 306 km (190 mi). Inclination: 32.80 deg. Period: 90.50 min. COSPAR: 1965-007A. USAF Sat Cat: 987. Decay Date: 1989-08-09. Orbiting Solar Observatory; returned solar X-ray, UV, gamma ray data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 May 29 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 441/D31.
  • Explorer 28 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: IMP C. Mass: 58 kg (127 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: IMP. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 229 km (142 mi). Apogee: 261,206 km (162,305 mi). Inclination: 30.50 deg. Period: 8,419.70 min. COSPAR: 1965-042A. USAF Sat Cat: 1388. Decay Date: 1968-07-04. Magnetic field, radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 July 2 - 04:07 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 415/D32.
  • Tiros 10 Nation: USA. Program: Tiros. Payload: Tiros OT1. Mass: 127 kg (279 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: Tiros. Agency: ESSA. Perigee: 722 km (448 mi). Apogee: 807 km (501 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 100.10 min. COSPAR: 1965-051A. USAF Sat Cat: 1430. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 August 25 - 15:17 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 434/D33. FAILURE: Premature third stage ignition.
  • OSO C Nation: USA. Payload: OSO C. Mass: 280 kg (610 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: OSO. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: F650825A. Decay Date: 1965-08-25. References: 5, 126.
1966 February 3 - 07:41 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 445/D36.
  • ESSA 1 Nation: USA. Program: Tiros. Payload: Tiros OT3. Mass: 138 kg (304 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: Tiros. Agency: ESSA. Perigee: 684 km (425 mi). Apogee: 806 km (500 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 99.70 min. COSPAR: 1966-008A. USAF Sat Cat: 1982. Environmental Survey Satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1966 May 25 - 14:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C1. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C1 436/D38.
  • Explorer 32 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: AE B. Mass: 225 kg (496 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere. Spacecraft: AE. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 282 km (175 mi). Apogee: 2,723 km (1,691 mi). Inclination: 64.60 deg. Period: 116.00 min. COSPAR: 1966-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 2183. Decay Date: 1985-02-22. Atmospheric Explorer; aeronomy experiments. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1967 March 8 - 16:12 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C 431/D46.
  • OSO 3 Nation: USA. Payload: OSO E1. Mass: 281 kg (619 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: OSO. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 546 km (339 mi). Apogee: 570 km (350 mi). Inclination: 32.80 deg. Period: 95.80 min. COSPAR: 1967-020A. USAF Sat Cat: 2703. Decay Date: 1982-04-04. Orbiting Solar Observatory. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1967 October 18 - 15:58 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C1. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C1 490/D53.
  • OSO 4 Nation: USA. Payload: OSO D. Mass: 272 kg (599 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: OSO. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 552 km (342 mi). Apogee: 555 km (344 mi). Inclination: 32.90 deg. Period: 95.70 min. COSPAR: 1967-100A. USAF Sat Cat: 3000. Decay Date: 1982-06-15. Extreme UV solar observations. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1969 January 22 - 16:48 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Model: Thor Delta C1. LV Configuration: Thor Delta C1 487/D64.
  • OSO 5 Nation: USA. Payload: OSO F. Mass: 291 kg (641 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: OSO. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 538 km (334 mi). Apogee: 559 km (347 mi). Inclination: 33.00 deg. Period: 95.60 min. COSPAR: 1969-006A. USAF Sat Cat: 3663. Decay Date: 1984-04-02. Orbiting Solar Observatory; solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
  • Gatland, Kenneth, Missiles and Rockets, Macmillan, New York, 1975. ISBN: 0713735058. Covers rocketry of all nations. More at amazon.com...
  • Wilson, Andrew, Spaceflight, "Delta Digest", 1979, Volume 10, page 413.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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