Space Launch Now - Thor Able II

Thor Able II

In-active

McDonnell Douglas (MDC)

Jan. 23, 1959

Description

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

Specifications

Stages
2
Length
27.3 m
Diameter
2.44 m
Fairing Diameter
2.44 m
Launch Mass
52.0 T
Thrust
668.0 kN

Family

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

Payload Capacity

Launch Cost
―
Low Earth Orbit
―
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
―
Direct Geostationary
―
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―

McDonnell Douglas

Commercial

None

MDC

None

Previous Flights

flew on two previous launch(es).

Thor Able II | Tiros 1

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 1, 1960, 11:40 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

TIROS-1 was the first successful low-Earth orbital weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.

Low Earth Orbit

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Thor Able II | Transit 1A

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 17, 1959, 2:34 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The Transit satellite system was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was used to provide accurate location for the US Navy ships. Transit 1A failed to make orbit.

Low Earth Orbit

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