| Upright: | 1 | ||
| Function: | Expendable launch system Sounding rocket | ||
| Manufacturer: | Douglas/Aerojet | ||
| Country-Origin: | United States | ||
| Family: | Thor | ||
| Derivatives: | Thor-Ablestar Delta | ||
| Comparable: | Luna | ||
| Launches: | 16 | ||
| Success: | 10 | ||
| Fail: | 6 | ||
| First: | 24 April 1958 | ||
| Last: | 1 April 1960 | ||
| Sites: | LC-17A, Canaveral | ||
| Payloads: | Pioneer Transit Tiros | ||
| Height: | – | ||
| Stages: | 2–3 | ||
| Capacities: |
| ||
| Stagedata: |
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.[1] [2]
| Date/Time (GMT) | Rocket | S/N | Launch Site | Payload | Function | Orbit | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-04-24 00:10 | Thor DM-18 Able | Thor 116 | CCAFS LC-17A | RTV test | Suborbital | Maiden flight of Thor-Able. Turbopump failure T+146 seconds. | ||
| 1958-07-10 15:06 | Thor DM-18 Able | Thor 118 | CCAFS LC-17A | RTV test | Suborbital | |||
| 1958-07-23 22:13 | Thor DM-18 Able | Thor 119 | CCAFS LC-17A | RTV test | Suborbital | Biological nose cone containing a mouse. The nose cone sank into the ocean and was not recovered. | ||
| 1958-08-17 12:18 | Thor DM-18 Able-I | Thor 127 | CCAFS LC-17A | Pioneer 0 | Lunar orbiter | High Altitude | Maiden flight of Thor-Able I. First use of a Thor-based vehicle for an orbital launch. Turbopump failure, T+73,6 seconds. | |
| 1958-10-11 08:42:13 | Thor DM-18 Able-I | Thor 130 | CCAFS LC-17A | Pioneer 1 | Lunar orbiter | High Altitude | Third stage underperformed | |
| 1958-11-08 08:42:13 | Thor DM-18 Able-I | Thor 129 | CCAFS LC-17A | Lunar orbiter | High Altitude | Third 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. | ||
| 1959-02-28 07:58 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 131 | CCAFS LC-17A | RVX test | Suborbital | |||
| 1959-03-21 06:19 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 132 | CCAFS LC-17A | RVX test | Suborbital | |||
| 1959-04-08 06:35 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 133 | CCAFS LC-17A | RVX test | Suborbital | |||
| 1959-05-21 06:40 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 135 | CCAFS LC-17A | RVX test | Suborbital | |||
| 1959-06-11 06:44 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 137 | CCAFS LC-17A | RVX test | Suborbital | |||
| 1959-08-07 14:24:20 | Thor DM-18 Able-III | Thor 134 | CCAFS LC-17A | Explorer 6 | Radiation | HEO | ||
| 1959-09-17 14:34 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 136 | CCAFS LC-17A | Transit 1A | Navigation | LEO | Third stage malfunctioned | |
| 1960-03-11 13:00 | Thor DM-18 Able-IV | Thor 219 | CCAFS LC 17A | Pioneer 5 | Scientific | Heliocentric | Only flight of Thor-Able IV | |
| 1960-04-01 11:40:09 | Thor DM-18 Able-II | Thor 148 | CCAFS LC-17A | TIROS-1 | Weather | SSO | Final flight of Thor-Able | |