Thor-Ablestar
Launch of a Thor-Ablestar 2 with a Transit satellite |
| Function |
Orbital carrier rocket |
| Manufacturer |
Douglas/Aerojet |
| Country of origin |
 United States |
| Size |
| Height |
29 metres (95 ft) |
| Diameter |
2.44 metres (8 ft 0 in) |
| Mass |
53,000 kilograms (120,000 lb) |
| Stages |
2 |
| Capacity |
Payload to
1100km LEO |
150 kilograms (330 lb) |
| Associated rockets |
| Family |
Thor |
| Comparable |
Delta |
| Launch history |
| Launch sites |
LC-17, Canaveral
LC-75-1, Arguello |
| Total launches |
19 |
| Successes |
12 |
| Failures |
5 |
| Partial failures |
2 |
| First flight |
13 April 1960 |
| Last flight |
13 August 1965 |
| First Stage - Thor |
| Engines |
1 MB-3-1 |
| Thrust |
760.64 kilonewtons (171,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse |
285 sec |
| Burn time |
164 seconds |
| Fuel |
RP-1/LOX |
| Second Stage - Ablestar |
| Engines |
1 AJ-10 |
| Thrust |
36.02 kilonewtons (8,100 lbf) |
| Specific impulse |
280 sec |
| Burn time |
296 seconds |
| Fuel |
HNO3/UDMH |
The Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon[1] was an early American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage. It was a member of the Thor family of rockets, and was derived from the Thor-Able.
The Ablestar second stage was an enlarged version of the Able, which gave the Thor-Ablestar a greater payload capacity compared to the Thor-Able. It also incorporated restart capabilities, allowing a multiple-burn trajectory to be flown, further increasing payload, or allowing the rocket to reach different orbits. It was the first rocket to be developed with such a capability.[2]
Nineteen Thor-Ablestars were launched between 1960 and 1965, of which four failed, and a fifth resulted in a partial failure, as only one of two payloads separated from the upper stage.[2] Two versions were built; the Thor-Ablestar 1, with a DM-21 Thor, and an AJ-10-104 second stage engine, and the Thor-Ablestar 2, which had a DSV-2A Thor first stage, and an uprated AJ-10-104D engine on the second stage.[1] Thor-Ablestar 1 launches occurred from LC-17 at Cape Canaveral, and Thor-Ablestar 2 rockets were launched from LC-75-1 at Point Arguellom, which has since become part of Vandenberg Air Force Base and is now designated SLC-2.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Able-Star". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
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- ‡ – Falcon 1 and 9 were designed for partial reuse, which was never achieved and has now been abandoned, however a fully-reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are under long-term development.
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- * - Japanese projects using US rockets or stages
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Thor and Delta rockets
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Thor
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Delta
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Alphabetical
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Numerical
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Modern
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Export
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Boosters
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First stages
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Upper Stages
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Engines
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United States
