Encyclopedia entry

Thor Delta A

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American orbital launch vehicle. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DM-21 + 1 x AJ10-118 + 1 x Altair

LEO Payload: 250 kg (550 lb). Payload: 68 kg (149 lb) to a GTO. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 9.590 million.

Stage Data - Delta A

Stage 1. 1 x 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. Status: Out of Production.

Stage 2. 1 x Delta A. Gross Mass: 2,164 kg (4,770 lb). Empty Mass: 694 kg (1,530 lb). Thrust (vac): 33.803 kN (7,599 lbf). Isp: 271 sec. Burn time: 115 sec. Diameter: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Span: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Length: 5.36 m (17.58 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: AJ10-118. Status: Out of Production.

Stage 3. 1 x 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. Status: Out of Production.

Chronology

3 events

LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta A.

Delta launch vehicle contract. - . Nation: USA. NASA announced the signing of a $24 million contract with Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc., for a three-stage Thor-Vanguard launching rocket called Delta..

22:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta A.

Explorer 14 - . Payload: EPE B (S-3A). Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Explorer. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft: EPE. Decay Date: 1964-12-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 432 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Gamma-1. Apogee: 96,229 km (59,793 mi). Perigee: 2,558 km (1,589 mi). Inclination: 42.30 deg. Period: 2,184.60 min. Magnetosphere studies. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .

23:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta A.

Explorer 15 - . Payload: EPE C (S-3C SERB). Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Explorer. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft: EPE. Decay Date: 1978-12-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 445 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Lambda-1. Apogee: 17,610 km (10,940 mi). Perigee: 306 km (190 mi). Inclination: 17.90 deg. Period: 314.70 min. Radiation decay data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .