Delta J no. 57

4 stage vehicle consisting of 3 x Castor + 1 x Thor DSV-2C + 1 x Delta E + 1 x Star 37D

Manufacturer: Douglas. Launches: 1. Success Rate: 100.00%. First Launch Date: 1968-07-04. Last Launch Date: 1968-07-04. Launch data is: complete. Payload: 263 kg (579 lb). to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Apogee: 6,000 km (3,700 mi). Associated Spacecraft: RAE. Liftoff Thrust: 1,452.900 kN (326,625 lbf). Total Mass: 69,497 kg (153,214 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 31.00 m (101.00 ft). Flyaway Unit Cost $: 16.660 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 0. 3 x Stage: Castor 2. Gross Mass: 4,424 kg (9,753 lb). Empty Mass: 695 kg (1,532 lb). Thrust (vac): 258.915 kN (58,206 lbf). Isp: 262 sec. Burn time: 37 sec. Isp(sl): 232 sec. Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Span: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Length: 6.04 m (19.81 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: TX-354-3.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Delta Thor TA. Gross Mass: 49,442 kg (109,000 lb). Empty Mass: 3,175 kg (6,999 lb). Thrust (vac): 866.710 kN (194,844 lbf). Isp: 290 sec. Burn time: 150 sec. Isp(sl): 256 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-3-3. Other designations: Thrust Augmented Thor.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Delta E. Gross Mass: 6,009 kg (13,247 lb). Empty Mass: 785 kg (1,730 lb). Thrust (vac): 35.098 kN (7,890 lbf). Isp: 278 sec. Burn time: 400 sec. Isp(sl): 0 sec. Diameter: 1.40 m (4.50 ft). Span: 1.40 m (4.50 ft). Length: 6.28 m (20.60 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: AJ10-118E.

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: Burner 2. Gross Mass: 774 kg (1,706 lb). Empty Mass: 116 kg (255 lb). Thrust (vac): 43.551 kN (9,791 lbf). Isp: 285 sec. Burn time: 42 sec. Isp(sl): 220 sec. Diameter: 0.66 m (2.16 ft). Span: 0.66 m (2.16 ft). Length: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: Star 37. Burner II was a launch vehicle upper stage developed by Boeing for the Air Force Space Systems Division. It was the first solid-fuel upper stage with full control and guidance capability developed for general space applications. Burner II was designed for use with the Thor booster, but was readily adapted for use on the complete range of standard launch vehicles. Its general assignment was to place small- and medium size payloads into orbit. The Burner II motor, guidance system and reaction control system were integrated to provide attitude stability and precise control of flight rate and burnout velocity for orbital injection and earth-escape missions. Boeing had delivered 8 flight vehicles under its original contract. Under terms of a follow-on contract, it built 6 additional flight models. Four Thor-Burner II combinations were launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The third launch placed 2 unclassified satellites in Earth orbit. A SECOR satellite, built for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by the Cubic Corporation, and an Aurora satellite, developed by Rice University for the Office of Naval Research, were placed in circular orbits 3,300 km above the Earth. As integration contractor for the Air Force Space Experiment Support Program (SESP) Office, Boeing designed, built and tested the injection stage, or "payload dispenser," which carried the 2 satellites on top of a standard Burner II stage and placed them in precise orbits. The satellites were mounted on opposite sides of the injection stage, which housed a640 kgf thrust, solid-propellant rocket motor. The Burner II was used as an upper stage by NASA for deep space probes. Prime Contractor: The Boeing Company. Major Subcontractors Thiokol Chemical Corporation (solid rocket motor); Honeywell Inc. (pre-programmed inertial guidance system); Walter Kidde Co. (reaction control system).

1968 July 4 - 17:26 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2. Launch Pad: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta J. Model: Thor Delta J. LV Configuration: Thor Delta J 476/D57.

• Explorer 38 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: RAE A. Mass: 190 kg (410 lb). Class: Astronomy. Spacecraft: RAE. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 5,835 km (3,625 mi). Apogee: 5,861 km (3,641 mi). Inclination: 120.90 deg. Period: 224.30 min. COSPAR: 1968-055A. USAF Sat Cat: 3307. Radio Astronomy Explorer; Earth, solar, cosmic radio emission data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• 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.