List of Thor and Delta launches (1970–1979)

Between 1970 and 1979, there were 117 Thor missiles launched, of which 108 were successful, giving a 92.3% success rate.

NASA used it to launch its own satellites, as well as to launch satellites for foreign governments and companies.

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

Launch sites

Launch outcomes

1970 There were 19 Thor missiles launched in 1970. 18 of the 19 launches were successful, giving a 94.7% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1970-01-1500:16 Delta M Delta 75Thor 557 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-6 Communication satellite GTO 1970-01-2311:52 Delta N6 Delta 76Thor 542 VAFB SLC-2W TIROS-M / Oscar 5 Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite LEO / SSO 1970-02-0402:59 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 534Agena Unknown VAFB SLC-2E SERT 2 Technological demonstration satellite MEO 1970-02-1108:40 Thor Burner 2 Thor 287 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1970-03-0422:15 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 551Agena 1657 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1109) Reconnaissance LEO 1970-03-2023:46 Delta M Delta 77Thor 558 CCAFS SLC-17A NATO 1 Military communication satellite GTO 1970-03-2707:37 Thor DSV-2J Thor 152 Johnston LE-1 ASAT test Suborbital 1970-04-0808:17 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 553Agena 6223 VAFB SLC-2E Nimbus 4 / TOPO-1 Weather satellite / Geodesic research satellite LEO / SSO 1970-04-2300:46 Delta M Delta 78Thor 559 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-7 Communication satellite GTO 1970-04-24 Thor DSV-2J Thor 225 Johnston LE-1 Satellite Inspection test Suborbital Thor rocket collided with the satellite. 1970-05-2021:35 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 555Agena 1657 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1110) Reconnaissance LEO 1970-07-2301:25 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 556Agena 1654 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1111) Reconnaissance LEO 1970-07-2323:23 Delta M Delta 79Thor 563 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-8 Communication satellite GTO 1970-08-1912:11 Delta M Delta 80Thor 561 CCAFS SLC-17A Skynet-1B Military communication satellite GTO 1970-08-2610:01 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 535Agena 2736 VAFB SLC-1W Ferret 15 (OPS 8329) ELINT LEO 1970-09-0308:39 Thor Burner 2 Thor 288 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1970-09-2412:54 Thor DSV-2J Thor 271 Johnston LE-2 Astronomy research flight Suborbital 1970-11-1821:29 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 552Agena 1658 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1112) Reconnaissance LEO 1970-12-1111:35 Delta N6 Delta 81Thor 546 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-1 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO

1971 There were 14 Thor missiles launched in 1971. 12 of the 14 launches were successful, giving an 85.7% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1971-02-0301:41 Delta M Delta 82Thor 560 CCAFS SLC-17A NATO 2 Military communication satellite GTO 1971-02-1703:52 Thor Burner 2 Thor 249 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F3 / Calsphere 3A / Calsphere 4 / Calsphere 5 Military weather satellite / Technology demonstration (x3) LEO / SSO 1971-02-1720:04 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 537Agena 1659 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1113) Reconnaissance LEO Improper pre-flight procedure caused frozen lubricant to form a plug that resulted in complete turbopump failure 18 seconds after liftoff. The booster lost thrust and impacted the ground not far from the launch complex. 1971-03-1316:15 Delta M6 Delta 83Thor 562 CCAFS SLC-17A Explorer 43 (IMP-H) Magnetosphere research satellite HEO 1971-03-2421:05 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 538Agena 1660 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1114) Reconnaissance LEO 1971-04-0102:53 Delta E1 Delta 84Thor 491 VAFB SLC-2E ISIS-II Ionosphere research satellite LEO / SSO 1971-06-0814:00 Thor Burner 2 Thor 210 VAFB SLC-10W SESP-1 (P70-1) Technological demonstration satellite LEO 1971-07-1621:29 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 552Agena 1658 VAFB SLC-1W Ferret 16 (OPS 8373) ELINT LEO 1971-09-1021:33 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 567Agena 1662 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1115) Reconnaissance LEO 1971-09-2909:50 Delta N Delta 85Thor 565 CCAFS SLC-17A OSO 7 / TTS-4 Solar observation satellite / Technology demonstration LEO, 321×572 km, 93.2 min, i=33.1°, e=0.0184 2nd stage suffered a failure of the attitude control system, however the satellite reached orbit and ground controllers were able to correct its flight path. 1971-10-1407:51 Thor Burner 2A Thor 159 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1971-10-1713:36 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 570Agena Unknown VAFB SLC-1W ASTEX (P71-2) Technological demonstration satellite LEO 1971-10-2111:32 Delta N6 Delta 86Thor 572 VAFB SLC-2E ITOS-B Weather Satellite planned: LEO / SSO 2nd stage oxidizer leak starting at T+20 seconds. The attitude control system ran out of propellant trying to correct the stage's flight path and the launch vehicle reentered the atmosphere and broke up above the Arctic Circle. 1971-12-1421:13 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 568Agena Unknown VAFB SLC-1W Poppy (OPS 7898) (x4) ELINT LEO Final flight of SLV-2G

1972 There were 11 Thor missiles launched in 1972. All 11 launches were successful. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1972-01-3117:20 Delta L Delta 87Thor 564 VAFB SLC-2E HEOS 2 Magnetosphere research satellite HEO 1972-03-1200:00 Delta N Delta 88Thor 573 VAFB SLC-2E TD-1A Astronomical research satellite LEO / SSO 1972-03-2408:46 Thor Burner 2A Thor 153 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1972-04-1921:43 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 569Agena 1661 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1116) Reconnaissance LEO 1972-05-2518:41 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 571Agena 1663 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1117) Reconnaissance LEO Final flight of Thorad-AgenaLast Corona spacecraft 1972-07-2318:06 Delta 904Chronology of Thor-Delta Development and Operations ] Delta 89Thor 574 VAFB SLC-2W Landsat 1 Earth Resource Technology Satellite 917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous. First use of 9 strap-on SRBs. Discovered Landsat Island. 1972-09-2313:20 Delta 1604 Delta 90Thor 579 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 47 (IMP-I) Magnetospheric research satellite HEO First successful flight of Delta-1000 series. 15 October 197217:17 Delta 300 Delta 91Thor 575 VAFB, SLC-2W NOAA-2 / AMSAT-OSCAR 6 Weather satellite / Amateur radio satellite LEO / SSO 1972-11-0903:43 Thor Burner 2A Thor 294 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F3 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1972-11-1001:14 Delta 1914 Delta 92Thor 580 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A1 Communication Satellite GTO 1972-12-1107:56 Delta 900 Delta 93Thor 577 VAFB SLC-2W Nimbus 5 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO

1973 There were 7 Thor missiles launched in 1973. 6 of the 7 launches were successful, giving an 85.7% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1973-04-2023:47 Delta 1914 Delta 94Thor 583 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A2 Communication Satellite GTO 1973-06-1014:13 Delta 1913 Delta 95Thor 581 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 49 (RAE-B) Radio astronomy satellite Lunar Orbit 1973-07-1617:10 Delta 300 Delta 96Thor 578 VAFB SLC-2W ITOS-E Weather Satellite planned: LEO / SSO Hydraulic pump malfunction led to failure of the 2nd stage attitude control system. The booster and payload reentered the atmosphere and broke up. 1973-08-1704:49 Thor Burner 2A Thor 291 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F4 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1973-10-2602:26 Delta 1604 Delta 97Thor 582 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 50 (IMP-J) Magnetospheric research satellite HEO 1973-11-0614:02 Delta 300 Delta 98Thor 576 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-3 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO 1973-12-1606:18 Delta 1900 Delta 99Thor 585 VAFB SLC-2W Explorer 51 (AE-C) Atmospheric research satellite MEO

1974 There were 9 Thor missiles launched in 1974. 8 of the 9 launches were successful, giving an 88.9% success rate. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1974-01-1901:38 Delta 2313 Delta 100Thor 587 CCAFS SLC-17B Skynet-2A Military communication satellite planned: GTO First flight of the Delta 2000 series. Stage 2 electronics package short circuited (induced by a piece of conductive contaminant shaken loose during launch), leading to loss of control. 1974-03-1608:00 Thor Burner 2A Thor 207 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F5 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1974-04-1321:33 Delta 2914 Delta 101Thor 588 CCAFS SLC-17B Westar-1 Communication satellite GTO 1974-05-1710:31 Delta 2914 Delta 102Thor 590 CCAFS SLC-17B SMS-1 Weather satellite GTO 1974-08-0903:22 Thor Burner 2A Thor 275 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1974-10-1022:53 Delta 2914 Delta 103Thor 589 CCAFS SLC-17B Westar-2 Communication satellite GTO 1974-11-1517:11 Delta 2310 Delta 104Thor 592 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-4 / Oscar 7 / Intasat Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite / Ionosphere research LEO / SSO 1974-11-2300:28 Delta 2313 Delta 105Thor 591 CCAFS SLC-17B Skynet-2B Military communication satellite GTO 1974-12-1902:39 Delta 2914 Delta 106Thor 599 CCAFS SLC-17B Symphonie-1 Communication satellite GTO

1975 There were 16 Thor missiles launched in 1975. All 16 launches were successful. Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 1975-01-2217:56 Delta 2910 Delta 107Thor 598 VAFB SLC-2W Landsat 2 Earth Resource Technology Satellite 917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous. Satellite operated until Feb 25, 1982. 1975-02-0622:04 Delta 2914 Delta 108Thor 593 CCAFS SLC-17B SMS-2 Weather satellite GTO 1975-04-1023:50 Delta 1410 Delta 109Thor 584 VAFB SLC-2W GEOS-C Geodetic research satellite LEO 1975-05-0723:35 Delta 2914 Delta 110Thor 596 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A3 Communication Satellite GTO 1975-05-2403:22 Thor Burner 2A Thor 197 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO 1975-06-1208:12 Delta 2910 Delta 111Thor 595 VAFB SLC-2W Nimbus 6 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO 1975-06-2111:43 Delta 1910 Delta 112Thor 586 CCAFS SLC-17B OSO 8 Solar observation satellite LEO 1975-08-0901:47 Delta 2913 Delta 113Thor 602 VAFB SLC-2W COS-B High-energy astronomy research satellite HEO 1975-09-0905:30 N-I N-1 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N KIKU-1 Technological demonstration satellite MEO First Japanese licensed built Delta flight. 1975-08-2701:42 Delta 2914 Delta 114Thor 594 CCAFS SLC-17A Symphonie-2 Communication satellite GTO 1975-09-19 Thor DSV-2J Thor 201 Johnston LE-2 Missile defense test tracking target Suborbital 1975-10-0609:01 Delta 2910 Delta 115Thor 600 VAFB SLC-2W Explorer 54 (AE-D) Atmospheric research satellite MEO 1975-10-1622:40 Delta 2914 Delta 116Thor 597 CCAFS SLC-17B GOES-A (GOES-1) Weather satellite GTO 1975-11-06 Thor DSV-2J Thor 274 Johnston LE-2 Missile defense test tracking target Suborbital Last sub-orbital Thor series flight 1975-11-2002:06 Delta 2910 Delta 117Thor 604 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 55 (AE-E) Atmospheric research satellite MEO 1975-12-1301:56 Delta 3914 Delta 118Thor 607 CCAFS SLC-17A Satcom-1 Communication satellite GTO First flight of the Delta 3000 series.

1976 There were 12 Thor missiles launched in 1976. 11 of the 12 launches were successful, giving a 91.7% success rate.