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Thor-Able
1958-1960 US space rocket system / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960.
Quick Facts Function, Manufacturer ...
![]() Thor-Able on display at the Air Force Space & Missile Museum | |
Function | Expendable launch system Sounding rocket |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Douglas/Aerojet |
Country of origin | United States |
Size | |
Height | 26.9 metres (88 ft) – 27.8 metres (91 ft) |
Diameter | 2.44 metres (8 ft 0 in) |
Mass | 51,608 kilograms (113,776 lb) |
Stages | 2–3 |
Capacity | |
Payload to 640km LEO | |
Mass | 120 kilograms (260 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Thor |
Derivative work | Thor-Ablestar Delta |
Comparable | Luna |
Launch history | |
Launch sites | LC-17A, Canaveral |
Total launches | 9 suborbital 7 orbital |
Success(es) | 7 suborbital 3 orbital |
Failure(s) | 2 suborbital 4 orbital |
First flight | 24 April 1958 |
Last flight | 1 April 1960 |
Type of passengers/cargo | Pioneer Transit Tiros |
First stage – Thor | |
Powered by | 1 LR79-7 |
Maximum thrust | 758.71 kilonewtons (170,560 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 282 seconds (2.77 km/s) |
Burn time | 165 seconds |
Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
Second stage – Able | |
Powered by | 1 AJ-10 |
Maximum thrust | 34.69 kilonewtons (7,800 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 270 seconds (2.6 km/s) |
Burn time | 115 seconds |
Propellant | HNO3/UDMH |
Third stage (optional) – Altair | |
Powered by | 1 X-248 |
Maximum thrust | 12.45 kilonewtons (2,800 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 256 seconds (2.51 km/s) |
Burn time | 38 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
Close
It was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. On some flights, an Altair solid rocket motor was added as a third stage. It was a member of the Thor family and an early predecessor of the Delta.[1][2]
The Able upper stage name represents its place as the first in the series, from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.[3]