 | RAF Training Launch
Credit - Larry Rhoads
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Orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1957. Family: Delta. Country: USA. Status: Out of production. Single stage vehicle adapted from Thor IRBM with no upper stage. Sixty Thors were deployed to missile sites in Great Britain under Project Emily. Philip Payne worked for Rocketdyne as their manager in England. He recalls:
Those days I worked for Rocketdyne as the manager in England of Project Emily. Our mission: get 60 Thors aimed at Khrushchev’s privates. Things were going badly for lots of reasons, many of them lack of earnest concentration by many Americans in corporations as well as USAF. I was p....d and often loudly said so.
One day a dignified, little American man came to me at Feltwell, Cambridgeshire, England, site of the first squadron (if we could ever get it installed and checked out) and told me he heard I was the one to talk to find out what was wrong. I was bad on names then, in my youth and so for hours as I laid it on him, I did not realize until late in the day I was talking to the American Secretary of Defense, Charlie Wilson.
I was so unpolitical an engineer turned executive, that I did not bother to tell my company of this until, receiving a muted blast vis á vis Douglas, they told me. Douglas sent over Bill Duval to replace Earl Neff.....
Thereafter things improved. After a few years the Thors were withdrawn from Britain (and the Jupiters from Turkey) as part of the secret codicil of Kennedy’s deal to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. Manufacturer: Douglas. Launches: 73. Failures: 17. Success Rate: 76.71%. First Launch Date: 1957-01-26. Last Launch Date: 1965-03-18. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Associated Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Liftoff Thrust: 667.200 kN (149,993 lbf). Total Mass: 49,340 kg (108,770 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 22.00 m (72.00 ft). Development Cost $: 500.000 million. in: 1958 average dollars. Launch Price $: 4.930 million. in: 1985 price dollars. Total Development Built: 64. Total Production Built: 160. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 0.750 million. in: 1958 unit dollars.
Model: Thor DM-18. Family: Delta. Country: USA. Single stage vehicle adapted from Thor IRBM with no upper stage. Liftoff Thrust: 667.200 kN (149,993 lbf). Total Mass: 49,340 kg (108,770 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 22.00 m (72.00 ft).
Model: Thor DM-18A. Family: Delta. Country: USA. Single stage vehicle Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 668.000 kN (150,172 lbf). Total Mass: 48,900 kg (107,800 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 19.40 m (63.60 ft).
Model: Thor DM-18C. Family: Delta. Country: USA. Single stage vehicle Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 734.000 kN (165,009 lbf). Total Mass: 48,500 kg (106,900 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 22.00 m (72.00 ft).
Model: Thor MG-18. Family: Delta. Country: USA. 2 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DM-18A + 1 x MG-18 Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 668.000 kN (150,172 lbf). Total Mass: 50,000 kg (110,000 lb). Core Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Total Length: 23.00 m (75.00 ft).
Stage Data - Thor DM-18 - Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Thor DM-19. Gross Mass: 49,340 kg (108,770 lb). Empty Mass: 3,125 kg (6,889 lb). Thrust (vac): 758.711 kN (170,565 lbf). Isp: 282 sec. Burn time: 165 sec. Isp(sl): 248 sec. Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Span: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Length: 18.42 m (60.43 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: LR-79-7.
Thor DM-18 Chronology 1957 January 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 101. FAILURE: Lox contamination, led to a valve failure. Thrust decayed, the booster settled back throught the thrust ring, causing an oxygen fire, followed by booster explosion. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. First attempted test flight of USAF Thor IRBM, only 13 months after first production contracts were signed, failed to launch. References: 791.
1957 Apr 20 0433? - 04:33 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 102. FAILURE: Console wiring error resulted in erroneous tracking indication; destroyed by range safety. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Douglas Thor IRBM (XSM-75) was launched at Cape Canaveral, Fla., destroyed by range safety officer. The missile was actually on course throughout its flight. The console wiring error led the range safety officer to believe it was headed inland rather than out to sea, so he hit the destruct button.References: 1804.
1957 May 22 0300? - 03:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 103. FAILURE: Stuck valve resulted in tank pressure buildup followed by booster explosion. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. References: 1804.
1957 August 30 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 104. FAILURE: Broke up after 92 seconds. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. References: 791.
1957 September 20 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 105. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Complete USAF Thor IRBM first successfully launched from Cape Canaveral. Dummy Warhead sent to 1800 km range. References: 791.
1957 Oct 3 1713? - 17:13 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 107. FAILURE: Fell back on pad, followed by explosion. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. References: 1804.
1957 Oct 11 1629? - 16:29 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 108. FAILURE: Turbopump gearbox failure. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Thor missile launched at Cape Canaveral, the second tested, achieved its designed 1,500-mile range. References: 1804.
1957 October 24 - 16:32 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 109. - Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Stripped down Thor long-range flight test successful from AMR, impacting 4400 km downrange. References: 1804.
1957 December 7 - 22:11 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 112. - Research and development Series II Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 1804.
1957 December 19 - 20:12 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 113. - Research and development Series II Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). A Thor missile, the eighth tested and the fourth successfully, completed the first fully-guided Thor IRBM flight using an all-inertial guidance system. References: 1804.
1958 January 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 114. FAILURE: Failure. - Research and development Series II Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Thor IRBM successfully fired from Cape Canaveral, flew prescribed course, and impacted in preselected area. References: 17, 791.
1958 February 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 120. FAILURE: Failure. - Research and development Series II Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Copper heatsink nose cone References: 791.
1958 April 19 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 121. FAILURE: Failure. - Research and development Series II Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. References: 791.
1958 June 4 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 115. - Research and development Series III Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). USAF Thor flight tested for the first time from a tactical-type launcher at Cape Canaveral. References: 791.
1958 June 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 122. - Research and development Series III Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1958 July 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 123. - Research and development Series III Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1958 July 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 126. FAILURE: Failure. - Research and development Series III Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. References: 791.
1958 August 6 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 117. - Research and development Series III Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1958 November 5 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 138. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 914.
1958 November 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 140. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). First operational launch References: 791.
1958 December 5 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 145. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1958 December 16 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 146. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1958 December 16 - 23:44 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-1. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 151. - Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Two Thor shots, one from Cape Canaveral and one from Vandenberg AFB, were successful. Intermediate range ballistic missile portion of PMR was inaugurated with successful firing of USAF Thor from Vandenberg AFB. References: 17, 917.
1958 December 30 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 149. FAILURE: Failure. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. References: 791.
1959 January 30 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 154. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 March 21 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 158. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 March 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 162. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 April 16 - 20:46 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 161. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Integrated Weapon System Training 1. First Thor IRBM launched by British crew at Vandenberg AFB. References: 17, 917.
1959 April 23 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 176. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Fourth recovery of a data capsule at AMR, USAF Thor 1,500-mile accuracy test flight. References: 17, 791.
1959 April 25 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 164. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 May 12 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 187. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 May 22 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 184. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 June 16 - 21:45 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 191. FAILURE: Autopilot error. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Integrated Weapon System Training Launch 2 References: 917.
1959 June 25 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 198. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 June 29 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 194. - Series IV Lofted Trajectory research and development mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 791.
1959 July 21 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 203. FAILURE: Failure. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. References: 791.
1959 July 24 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 202. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). USAF Thor data capsule recovered near Antigua which contained movie film showing nose cone separation. References: 17, 791.
1959 August 3 - 21:41 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-1. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 175. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1959 August 5 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 208. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 August 14 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 204. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 August 14 - 19:36 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-6. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 190. FAILURE: Early fuel depletion. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. References: 903.
1959 August 27 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 216. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 September 12 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 217. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 September 17 - 21:09 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-2. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 228. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1959 September 22 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 222. - Series IV research and development launch/Ionosphere/Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 October 6 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 235. - Series IV research and development launch/Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 October 6 - 18:26 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 239. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1959 October 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 221. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 872.
1959 October 21 - 22:57 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-1. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 220. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1959 October 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 230. - Series IV research and development launch/Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 November 3 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 238. - Series IV research and development launch/Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 November 12 - 19:24 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-2. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 181. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1959 November 19 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 244. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 December 1 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 254. - Series IV research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1959 December 2 - 05:29 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-1. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 265. FAILURE: Failure. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. References: 917.
1959 December 15 - 02:14 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-2. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 185. FAILURE: Control failure. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. References: 917.
1959 December 17 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 255. - Series IV research and development launch/Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1960 January 14 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18C. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18C 256. - Special Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1960 January 21 - 20:10 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-1-2. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 215. - IWST test flight Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1960 February 9 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18C. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18C 259. - Special Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1960 February 29 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18B. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18C. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18C 263. - Special Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 791.
1960 March 2 - 20:06 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 272. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1960 June 22 - 23:26 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 233. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1960 October 11 - 21:53 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 186. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1960 December 13 - 20:08 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 267. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1961 March 30 - 05:13 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 243. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1961 June 20 - 23:54 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 75. Launch Pad: 75-2-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 276. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1961 September 6 - 22:30 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LE-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 165. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1961 December 6 - 01:30 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LE-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 214. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1962 March 19 - 23:28 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LE-7. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 229. FAILURE: Destroyed at T+28 seconds. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1962 June 19 - 00:30 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LE-8. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor DM-18A. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18A 269. - Combat training launch Nation: USA. Agency: RAF. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). References: 917.
1965 January 19 - 05:03 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 4300. Launch Pad: 4300B6. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor MG-18. LV Configuration: Thor MG-18 224. - DMSP-Block-4A F1 Nation: USA. Program: DMSP. Payload: DAPP 10. Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 462 km (287 mi). Apogee: 833 km (517 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 97.60 min. COSPAR: 1965-003A. USAF Sat Cat: 973. Decay Date: 1979-07-13. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Launch date was January 18, 1965. The launch was successful and correct orbit was achieved. However, the heat shield on the second stage did not deploy correctly and the mission objectives were not fully realized. This first Burner I bird is distinguishable in photos by its black second stage.References: 1, 2, 5, 6.
1965 March 18 - 04:43 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 4300. Launch Pad: 4300B6. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. Model: Thor MG-18. LV Configuration: Thor MG-18 306. - DMSP-Block-4A F2 Nation: USA. Program: DMSP. Payload: DAPP 11. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 139 km (86 mi). Apogee: 146 km (90 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 87.30 min. COSPAR: 1965-021A. USAF Sat Cat: 1273. Decay Date: 1989-12-31. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. A fully successful launch with all objectives met. The night launch time of 2100 hrs Vandenberg time with a 5 minute launch window was the same for both the first and second Burner I launches. 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.
- Koelle, Heinz Hermann,, Handbook of Astronautical Engineering, McGraw-Hill,New York, 1961. The only such comprehensive handbook ever produced, and at the dawn of the space age.
- Nicholas, Ted G., U.S. Missile Data Book, 1983, Seventh Edition, Data Search Associates, Fountain Valley, California, 1982..
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