Between 1957 and 1959, there were 79 Thor missiles launched, of which 51 were successful, giving a 64.5% success rate.

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

Launch sites

Launch outcomes

1957

There were 9 Thor missiles launched in 1957. 4 of the 9 launches were successful, giving a 44.4% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks1957-01-26Thor DM-18Thor 101CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalMaiden flight of Thor, first launch from LC-17. Contaminated LOX caused loss of thrust at liftoff. Vehicle fell back onto the pad and exploded.1957-04-2004:33Thor DM-18Thor 102CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalRSO sent a mistaken destruct command at T+35 seconds due to an incorrect console readout.1957-08-30Thor DM-18Thor 104CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbitalFirst launch from LC-17A. Control malfunction led to missile breakup at T+92 seconds.1957-09-20Thor DM-18Thor 105CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbital1957-10-0317:14Thor DM-18Thor 107CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbitalStuck valve prevented the gas generator from starting. Missile fell back onto the pad and exploded.1957-10-1116:33Thor DM-18Thor 108CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalTurbopump failure at T+152 seconds. Flight considered a "partial success".1957-10-2416:32Thor DM-18Thor 109CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbital1957-12-0722:11Thor DM-18Thor 112CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbital1957-12-1920:12Thor DM-18Thor 113CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbital

1958 There were 20 Thor missiles launched in 1958. 8 of the 20 launches were successful, giving a 40% success rate. Date/Time(GMT) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks1958-01-2820:16Thor DM-18Thor 114CCAFS LC-17AMissile testSuborbitalElectrical malfunction led to control failure. RSO T+152 seconds.1958-02-2813:08Thor DM-18Thor 120CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalPremature engine shutdown at T+109 seconds.1958-04-1913:30Thor DM-18Thor 121CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalMissile lost thrust and fell back onto the pad, exploding. Suspected fuel line obstruction.1958-04-2400:10Thor DM-18 AbleThor 116CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalMaiden flight of Thor-Able. Turbopump failure T+146 seconds.1958-06-0421:17Thor DM-18Thor 115CCAFS LC-18BMissile testSuborbitalFirst launch from LC-18B1958-06-1315:06Thor DM-18Thor 122CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbital1958-07-1015:06Thor DM-18 AbleThor 118CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbital1958-07-1306:36Thor DM-18Thor 123CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalPerformance was normal through the boost phase, but the BECO and warhead separation signals were never received.1958-07-2322:13Thor DM-18 AbleThor 119CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalBiological nose cone containing a mouse. The nose cone sank into the ocean and was not recovered.1958-07-2606:40Thor DM-18Thor 126CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalLOX valve malfunction led to loss of thrust and vehicle breakup at T+55 seconds1958-08-06Thor DM-18Thor 117CCAFS LC-18BMissile testSuborbitalFinal flight of Thor DM-18 missile1958-08-1712:18Thor DM-18 Able-IThor 127CCAFS LC-17APioneer 0Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeMaiden flight of Thor-Able I. First use of a Thor-based vehicle for an orbital launch. Turbopump failure, T+73,6 seconds.1958-10-1108:42:13Thor DM-18 Able-IThor 130CCAFS LC-17APioneer 1Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeThird stage underperformed1958-11-0508:53Thor DM-18AThor 138CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalMaiden flight of Thor DM-18A. Flight control failure. RSO T+45 seconds.1958-11-0808:42:13Thor DM-18 Able-I Thor 129CCAFS LC-17APioneer 2 Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeThird stage failed to ignite 1958-11-2609:09Thor DM-18AThor 140CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbitalLoss of guidance system power caused the missile to overshoot its target point by 22 miles.1958-12-0600:41Thor DM-18AThor 145CCAFS LC-18BMissile testSuborbitalLOX tank pressurization failure led to loss of thrust. Missile impacted 20 miles short of the target point.1958-12-1623:44:45Thor DM-18AThor 151VAFB LC-75-1-1Missile testSuborbitalFirst Thor launch from Vandenberg AFB1958-12-1704:00Thor DM-18AThor 146CCAFS LC-17BMissile testSuborbital1958-12-3102:00Thor DM-18AThor 138CCAFS LC-18BMissile testSuborbitalFlight control failure. RSO T+40 seconds.

1959 There were 50 Thor missiles launched in 1959. 39 of the 50 launches were successful, giving a 78% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1959-01-23 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 128 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital Thor portion of flight successful. Staging failed due to an electrical malfunction. Vehicle fell into the Atlantic Ocean. 1959-01-3023:53 Thor DM-18A Thor 154 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-02-2807:58 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 131 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-02-2821:49:16 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 163Agena 1022 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 1 Reconnaissance LEO Maiden flight of Thor-Agena. Agena telemetry lost T+730 seconds. Fate of the payload unknown, but generally presumed to have impacted somewhere in Antarctica. 1959-03-2106:19 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 132 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-03-2200:58 Thor DM-18A Thor 158 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-03-2704:02 Thor DM-18A Thor 162 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-04-0806:35 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 133 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-04-1321:18:39 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 170Agena 1018 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 2 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-04-1620:46 Thor DM-18A Thor 161 VAFB LC-75-2-8 Missile test Suborbital 1959-04-2305:30 Thor DM-18A Thor 176 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-04-2505:00 Thor DM-18A Thor 164 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-05-1217:35 Thor DM-18A Thor 187 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-05-2106:40 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 135 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-05-2302:42 Thor DM-18A Thor 184 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-06-0320:09:20 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 174Agena 1020 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 3 Reconnaissance LEO Agena attitude control malfunction pointed the stage in the wrong direction, sending it into the Pacific Ocean rather than orbit. 1959-06-1106:44 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 137 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-06-1621:45 Thor DM-18A Thor 191 VAFB LC-75-2-7 Missile test Suborbital Pitch and roll program failed to initiate. RSO T+50 seconds. 1959-06-2522:47:45 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 179Agena 1023 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 4 Reconnaissance LEO Agena developed insufficient thrust to attain orbital velocity. 1959-06-26 Thor DM-18A Thor 198 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-06-3002:37 Thor DM-18A Thor 194 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-07-2107:33 Thor DM-18A Thor 203 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital Pitch and roll program failed to initiate. RSO T+40 seconds. 1959-07-2412:47 Thor DM-18A Thor 202 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-08-0321:41 Thor DM-18A Thor 175 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital 1959-08-0602:48 Thor DM-18A Thor 208 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-08-0714:24:20 Thor DM-18 Able-III Thor 134 CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 6 Radiation HEO 1959-08-1319:00:08 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 192Agena 1029 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 5 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-08-1409:00 Thor DM-18A Thor 204 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-08-1419:36:04 Thor DM-18A Thor 190 VAFB LC-75-2-6 Missile test Suborbital Premature propellant depletion. Planned range not achieved. 1959-08-1919:24:44 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 200Agena 1028 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 6 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-08-2712:30 Thor DM-18A Thor 216 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-09-12 Thor DM-18A Thor 217 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-09-1714:34 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 136 CCAFS LC-17A Transit 1A Navigation LEO Third stage malfunctioned 1959-09-1721:09 Thor DM-18A Thor 228 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital 1959-09-2218:00 Thor DM-18A Thor 222 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-10-0616:41 Thor DM-18A Thor 235 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-10-0618:26 Thor DM-18A Thor 239 VAFB LC-75-2-8 Missile test Suborbital 1959-10-1404:15 Thor DM-18A Thor 221 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-10-2122:57 Thor DM-18A Thor 220 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital 1959-10-2902:12 Thor DM-18A Thor 230 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-11-03 Thor DM-18A Thor 238 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-11-0720:28:41 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 206Agena 1051 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 7 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-11-1219:24 Thor DM-18A Thor 181 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital 1959-11-19 Thor DM-18A Thor 244 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital 1959-11-2019:25:24 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 212Agena 1050 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 8 Reconnaissance LEO Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule 1959-12-0117:00 Thor DM-18A Thor 254 CCAFS LC-18B Missile test Suborbital 1959-12-0205:29 Thor DM-18A Thor 265 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Missile test Suborbital 1959-12-1502:14 Thor DM-18A Thor 185 VAFB LC-75-1-2 Missile test Suborbital Flight control failure. Missile broke up T+60 seconds. 1959-12-17 Thor DM-18A Thor 255 CCAFS LC-17B Missile test Suborbital

Images

See also

References