List of Delta DM-19 launches

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Thor-Delta prior to the launch of Explorer 10
FunctionExpendable launch system
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesCape Canaveral LC-17
Total launches12
Success(es)11
Failure(s)1
First flight1960-05-13
Last flight1962-09-18
[edit on Wikidata]

About the Delta DM-19[edit]

The Thor-Delta, also known as Delta DM-19 or just Delta was an early American expendable launch system used for 12 orbital launches in the early 1960s. A derivative of the Thor-Able, it was a member of the Thor family of rockets, and the first member of the Delta family.[1]

The first stage was a Thor missile in the DM-19 configuration. The second stage was the Delta, which had been derived from the earlier Able stage. An Altair solid rocket motor was used as a third stage.[2]

The basic design of the original Vanguard upper stages, featuring a pressure-fed nitric acid/UDMH, regeneratively cooled engine, was kept in place, but with an improved AJ10-118 engine. More significantly, the Delta stage featured cold gas attitude control jets allowing it to be stabilized in orbit for restart and more precise burns.

The Thor-Delta was the first rocket to use the combination of a Thor missile and a Delta upper stage. This configuration was reused for many later rockets, and a derivative, the Delta II, remained in service until 2018.

The Thor-Delta launched a number of significant payloads, including the first communications satellite, Echo 1A; the first British satellite, Ariel 1; and the first active direct-relay communications satellite, Telstar 1. All 12 launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17. The launch of Telstar 1 used pad B, while all other launches were from pad A. All launches were successful except the maiden flight, which failed to place Echo 1 into orbit due to a problem with the second stage.

Launch statistics[edit]

Launch outcome[edit]

1
2
3
4
5
6

Launchpad[edit]

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2
3
4
5
6

Orbit[edit]

1
2
3
4
5
6

Function[edit]

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2
3
4
5
6

Launch history[edit]

Date/time
(UTC) 		Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1960-05-13
09:16:05 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 144
Delta 1 		CCAFS LC-17A Echo 1 Communication MEO Failure Maiden flight of Thor-Delta, upper-stage attitude control system malfunctioned
1960-08-12
09:39:43 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 270
Delta 2 		CCAFS LC-17A Echo 1A Communications MEO Success
1960-11-23
11:13:03 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 245
Delta 3 		CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-2 Weather SSO Success
1961-03-25
15:17:04 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 295
Delta 4 		CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 10 Magnetospheric HEO Success
1961-07-12
10:25:06 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 286
Delta 5 		CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-3 Weather SSO Success
1961-08-16
03:21:05 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 312
Delta 6 		CCAFS LC-17A Explorer 12 Magnetospheric HEO Success
1962-02-08
12:43:45 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 317
Delta 7 		CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-4 Weather SSO Success
1962-03-07
16:06:18 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 301
Delta 8 		CCAFS LC-17A OSO-1 Solar LEO Success
1962-04-26
18:00:16 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 320
Delta 9 		CCAFS LC-17A Ariel 1 Ionospheric LEO Success
1962-06-19
12:19:01 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 321
Delta 10 		CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-5 Weather SSO Success
1962-07-10
08:35:05 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 316
Delta 11 		CCAFS LC-17B Telstar 1 Communication MEO Success
1962-09-18
08:53:08 		Thor DM-19 Delta Thor 318
Delta 12 		CCAFS LC-17A TIROS-6 Weather SSO Success Final flight of Thor-Delta

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  2. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Thor family". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
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