Space Launch Now - Thor Able I

Thor Able I

In-active

McDonnell Douglas (MDC)

April 24, 1958

Description

American orbital launch vehicle. Thor with Able stage derived from Vanguard second stage.

Specifications

Stages
2
Length
30.0 m
Diameter
2.44 m
Fairing Diameter
2.44 m
Launch Mass
51.0 T
Thrust
667.0 kN

Family

Name
Thor Able I
Family
―
Variant
Able I
Alias
―
Full Name
Thor Able I

Payload Capacity

Launch Cost
$8900000
Low Earth Orbit
120.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
―
Direct Geostationary
―
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―

McDonnell Douglas

Commercial

None

MDC

None

Previous Flights

flew on three previous launch(es).

Thor Able I | Pioneer 2

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Nov. 8, 1958, 7:30 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The third pioneer orbiter, pioneer 2 intended to enter lunar orbit but failed to make orbit when the third stage failed to ignite.

Lunar Orbit

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Thor Able I | Pioneer 1

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Oct. 11, 1958, 8:42 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The second pioneer orbiter, pioneer 1 intended to enter lunar orbit but missed the Moon after a third stage partial failure.

Lunar Orbit

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Thor Able I | Able I (Pioneer)

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 17, 1958, 12:18 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The first pioneer orbiter, pioneer 0 was a lunar orbiter intended to enter a lunar orbit for observation. However, the mission failed 77 seconds into launch.

Lunar Orbit

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