The Thor-Able (Thor DM-18-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. 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. Launch statistics
Rocket configurations
Launch outcome
Orbit
Function
Launch history +The date in this table comes from Date/Time(GMT) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks1958-04-2400:10Thor DM-18 AbleThor 116CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalMaiden flight of Thor-Able. Turbopump failure T+146 seconds.1958-07-1015:06Thor DM-18 AbleThor 118CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbital1958-07-2322:13Thor DM-18 AbleThor 119CCAFS LC-17ARTV testSuborbitalBiological nose cone containing a mouse. The nose cone sank into the ocean and was not recovered.1958-08-1712:18Thor 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 underperformed1958-11-0808:42:13Thor DM-18 Able-I Thor 129CCAFS LC-17APioneer 2 Lunar orbiterHigh AltitudeThird stage failed to ignite 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. 1959-02-2807:58 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 131 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-03-2106:19 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 132 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-04-0806:35 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 133 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-05-2106:40 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 135 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-06-1106:44 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 137 CCAFS LC-17A RVX test Suborbital 1959-08-0714:24:20 Thor DM-18 Able-III Thor 134 CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 6 Radiation HEO 1959-09-1714:34 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 136 CCAFS LC-17A Transit 1A Navigation LEO Third stage malfunctioned 1960-03-1113:00 Thor DM-18 Able-IV Thor 219 CCAFS LC 17A Pioneer 5 Scientific Heliocentric Only flight of Thor-Able IV 1960-04-0111:40:09 Thor DM-18 Able-II Thor 148 CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-1 Weather SSO Final flight of Thor-Able
See also List of Thor and Delta launches List of Thor and Delta launches (1957-1959) List of Thor and Delta launches (1960-1969) List of Thor DM-18 Agena-A launches Thor (rocket family) Thor DM-19 Delta
References