Thor DM-21 Agena-D or just Thor-Agena was an orbital launch vehicle. The launch vehicles used the Douglas-built Thor first stage and the Lockheed-built Agena second stages. They are thus cousins of the more-famous Thor-Deltans, which founded the Delta launch vehicle family. The first attempted launch of a Thor DM-21 Agena-D was on 28 June 1962. The first successful launch was also on 28 June 1962, launching FTV 1151. It was the first two-stage rocket to place a satellite into orbit.[1]
Launch outcome | Orbit |
| Date/Time (UTC) | Rocket | S/N | Launch Site | Payload | Function | Orbit | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962-06-28 01:09 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 340 Agena 1151 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1151 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-08-02 00:17 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 344 Agena 1152 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1152 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-08-29 01:00 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 349 Agena 1153 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1153 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-09-29 23:34:50 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 351 Agena 1154 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1154 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-10-26 16:14 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 353 Agena 1401 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | STARAD | Radiation | MEO | ||
| 1962-12-04 21:30 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 361 Agena 1155 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1155 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-12-13 04:07 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 365 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | NRL PL120 Injun 3 NRL PL121 SURCAL 2 Calsphere 1 | ELINT Ionospheric Calibration | MEO | ||
| 1962-12-14 21:26:07 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 368 Agena 1156 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | FTV 1156 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-01-07 21:09:49 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 369 Agena 1157 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 0048 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-04-01 23:01 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 376 Agena 1160 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | OPS 0720 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-04-26 20:13 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 372 Agena 1411 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 1008 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Attitude sensor alignment error results in no Agena orbit. | |
| 1963-06-15 14:29 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 378 Agena 2353 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1292 Solrad 6A LOFTI 2B Surcal 3 Radose 112 | ELINT Radiation Ionospheric Calibration | LEO | ||
| 1963-07-19 00:00:10 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 388 Agena 1412 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 1266 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1965-03-09 18:29 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 419 Agena 2701 | VAFB SLC-2W | SECOR 3 / Dodecapole 1 / Poppy 4 / Solrad 7B / GGSE 2 / GGSE 3 / Surcal 4 / Oscar 3 | Geodesic research / Radar calibration / ELINT / ELINT / Technological test / Technological test / Technological test / Amateur radio satellite | LEO | ||
| 1965-09-02 20:00 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 401 Agena 1602 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | MPRV | Upper atmosphere and space experiments | planned: MEO | High winds caused the vehicle to drift off course. RSO T+43 seconds. Debris fell on a trailer park. | |
| 1967-05-31 09:30 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 443 Agena 2704 | VAFB SLC-2W | Timation 1 / GGSE 4 / GGSE 5 / Poppy 5 / Calsphere 3 / Calsphere 4 / Surcal 152 / Surcal 153 / Surcal 150B | Experimental navigation satellite / Technological research satellite / ELINT / Technological research satellites (x5) | LEO | Final flight of the original Thor-Agena series. | |