Thor Able Star - Credit: © Mark Wade. 992 bytes. 52 x 322 pixels.

Launches: 20. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 75.00% pct. First Launch Date: 13 April 1960. Last Launch Date: 13 August 1965. LEO Payload: 150 kg. to: 620 km Orbit. Liftoff Thrust: 68,040 kgf. Total Mass: 53,000 kg. Core Diameter: 2.4 m. Total Length: 29.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 12.83 million. in 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Thor DM-21 Gross Mass: 48,354 kg. Empty Mass: 2,948 kg. Thrust (vac): 77,564 kgf. Isp: 285 sec. Burn time: 164 sec. Isp(sl): 250 sec. Diameter: 2.4 m. Span: 2.4 m. Length: 18.4 m. Propellants: Lox/Kerosene No Engines: 1. MB-3-1

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Able-Star Gross Mass: 4,470 kg. Empty Mass: 590 kg. Thrust (vac): 3,578 kgf. Isp: 278 sec. Burn time: 296 sec. Isp(sl): 210 sec. Diameter: 1.4 m. Span: 1.4 m. Length: 5.9 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH No Engines: 1. AJ10-104

• Transit 1B Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 121 kg.

  Navy TRANSIT I-B launched into orbit by Thor-Able-Star with navigation payload experiment at Cape Canaveral. Flight demonstrated the first engine restart in space and the feasibility of using satellites as navigational aids.

• Dummy subsatellite Spacecraft: GRAB. Payload: GRAB dummy. Mass: 18 kg.

• Solrad 1 Spacecraft: GRAB. Payload: GRAB 1. Mass: 19 kg.

  Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

• Transit 2A Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 101 kg.

  Also returned geodetic data.

• Courier 1A Spacecraft: Courier. Mass: 225 kg.

  Experimental communications sattelite.

• Courier 1B Spacecraft: Courier. Mass: 230 kg.

  Experimental communications. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

• Transit 3A Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit 3A. Mass: 91 kg.

  Destroyed by range safety; launched with Solrad 2. Thor shut down too early.

• Solrad 2 Spacecraft: GRAB. Payload: GRAB 2. Mass: 18 kg.

• Lofti 1 Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 25 kg.

  Dual launch; failed to separate from Transit 3B. Partial Failure.

• Lofti Spacecraft: Lofti.

• Transit 3B Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 112 kg.

  Dual launch; failed to separate from Lofti 1. Partial Failure.

• Injun 1 Spacecraft: Injun. Mass: 25 kg.

  Dual launch; failed to separate from Solrad 3; still returned radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Transit 4A Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 79 kg.

  Carried SNAP-3A nuclear power source.

• Solrad 3 Spacecraft: GRAB. Payload: GRAB 3. Mass: 18 kg.

• TRAAC Spacecraft: TRAAC. Mass: 109 kg.

  Transit Research and Attitude Control. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

• Transit 4B Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 86 kg.

  Carried SNAP 3 nuclear power source.

• Injun 2 Spacecraft: Injun. Payload: Injun 2.

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  Launch Complex 17B - Launch Complex 17B - Cape Canaveral 31,236 bytes. 238 x 371 pixels.

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• Surcal Spacecraft: Surcal. Payload: Surcal.

• Solrad 4 Spacecraft: GRAB. Payload: GRAB 4. Mass: 18 kg.

• Lofti 2 Spacecraft: Lofti 2. Mass: 99 kg.

  Carried 5 satellites.

• Secor Spacecraft: SECOR. Payload: Secor.

• Anna 1A Spacecraft: Anna. Payload: Anna 1A. Mass: 160 kg.

  USN, USAF, US Army, NASA joint program.

• Anna 1B Spacecraft: Anna. Mass: 161 kg.

  Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

• APL SN 39 Spacecraft: APL. Mass: 61 kg.

  The missions of Satellite 1963-038C were to measure omnidirectional flux of protons and electrons at various energy levels, radiation effects on transistors, and the effectiveness of thermal coatings. The satellite was launched together with a classified Department of Defense spacecraft on September 28, 1963. Its planned orbit was apogee 1120 kilometres, perigee 1070 kilometres, inclination 88.9 degrees. The satellite weighed 62 kg; its body was in the shape of an 0.46 m x 0.25 m octagonal prism. It was powered by four solar blades and transmited on 136, 162, and 324 mcs. The spacecraft was built for the Bureau of Naval Weapons. In 1967 it was still sending usable data from all systems.

• Transit 5B-1 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit 5BN-1. Mass: 70 kg.

• Transit 5B-2 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit 5BN-2. Mass: 75 kg.

  Carried SNAP-9A nuclear power source.

• Unidentified Spacecraft: APL. Payload: Transit 5E 3. Mass: 53 kg.

  Radiation monitoring.

• Transit 5E-2 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit V5E-2.

  Radiation monitoring.

• Transit 5BN-3 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit 5BN-3. Mass: 75 kg.

  Carried SNAP-9A nuclear power source.

• Calsphere 2 Spacecraft: Calsphere. Payload: Dragsphere 2. Mass: 10 kg.

  Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Transit 5B-4 NNS 30010 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit-O 1 (NNS 30010) / Ablestar 016. Mass: 60 kg.

• Calsphere 1 Spacecraft: Calsphere. Payload: Dragsphere 1. Mass: 1 kg.

  Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• APL SN 43 Spacecraft: APL. Payload: Transit 5E 5. Mass: 78 kg.

  Celestial UV, magnetic field data.

• Transit 5B-5 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit-O 2 (NNS 30020). Mass: 60 kg.

• Transit-O 3 Spacecraft: Transit. Mass: 60 kg.

• SECOR 2 Spacecraft: SECOR. Payload: EGRS 2. Mass: 18 kg.

  Failed. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Transit 5B-6 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit-O 4 (NNS 30040). Mass: 61 kg.

• Dodecapole 2 Spacecraft: DODECAPOLE. Payload: PORCUPINE 2. Mass: 4 kg.

  Surveillance Calibration; dodecahedron; extended 12 25 ft. antennas. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Tempsat 1 Spacecraft: Tempsat. Mass: 9 kg.

  Surveillance Calibration; black 14 inch dia. sphere. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Transit 5B-7 Spacecraft: Transit. Payload: Transit-O 5 (NNS 30050). Mass: 61 kg.

• Long Rod Spacecraft: Surcal. Payload: Navspasur Rod.

  Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• Calsphere 4A Spacecraft: Calsphere. Payload: NRL PL 158?. Mass: 2 kg.

  Surveillance Calibration; white 14 inch dia. sphere.

• SURCAL 5 Spacecraft: SURCAL. Payload: NRL PL150C?.

• 45 - Koelle, Heinz Hermann,, Handbook of Astronautical Engineering, McGraw-Hill,New York, 1961.