| Function: | Expendable launch system | ||||
| Country-Origin: | United States | ||||
| Sites: | Cape Canaveral LC-17 | ||||
| Capacities: |
| ||||
| Launches: | 9 | ||||
| Success: | 8 | ||||
| Fail: | 1 | ||||
| Status: | Retired | ||||
| First: | 13 December 1962 | ||||
| Last: | 19 March 1964 |
The Delta B, or Thor-Delta B was an American expendable launch system used for nine orbital launches between 1962 and 1964.[1] A derivative of the Thor-Delta, it was a member of the Delta family of rockets.[2]
The first stage was a Thor missile in the DM-21 configuration, and the second stage was the AJ10-118,[3] which was derived from the earlier Delta-A. An Altair solid rocket motor was used as a third stage.
All nine launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17. Most of the launches carried communications satellites, including Syncom-1[4] and Syncom-2. Syncom-1 was intended to be the first satellite to be placed into a geosynchronous orbit, however the spacecraft malfunctioned prior to reaching this orbit.[5] Syncom-2 subsequently became the first geosynchronous satellite, and was placed at 55° west of the Greenwich Meridian. The final launch failed due to third stage underperformance,[6] all other launches were successful.
Delta B was launched nine times:
| Date | Ser. | Launch site | Payload | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.12.1962 | Thor 355 Delta 15 | LC-17A | Relay 1 | |
| 14.02.1963 | Thor 358 Delta 16 | LC-17B | Syncom 1 | |
| 03.04.1963 | Thor 357 Delta 17 | LC-17B | Explorer 17 | |
| 07.05.1963 | Thor 366 Delta 18 | LC-17B | Telstar 2 | |
| 19.06.1963 | Thor 359 Delta 19 | LC-17B | TIROS 7 | |
| 26.07.1963 | Thor 370 Delta 20 | LC-17A | Syncom 2 | |
| 21.12.1963 | Thor 371 Delta 22 | LC-17B | TIROS 8 | |
| 21.01.1964 | Thor 373 Delta 23 | LC-17B | Relay 2 | |
| 19.03.1964 | Thor 391 Delta 24 | LC-17A | Explorer S-66 (failed) |