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Thor DSV-2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FunctionSounding rocket
Test vehicle
ASAT booster
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
Launch sitesCCAFS LC-17
Johnston Atoll LE-1 & LE-2
VA LC-75
Total launches34
Success(es)28
Failure(s)6
[edit on Wikidata]

The Thor DSV-2 was a series of sounding rockets, test vehicles, and anti-satellite weapons derived from the Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missile. It was also used as the first stage of several Thor-derived expendable launch systems.[1]

Variants

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Thor DSV-2A

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DSV-2A (Thor 385) launching a Transit satellite

The DSV-2A was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a DSV-2A / MB-3-II first stage, and an Able-Star / AJ10-104D second stage.[2] It was launched eight times between 1963 and 1965 from Vandenberg.[2]

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Result
Thor 375 1963-09-28 VA LC-75 Transit 5BN-1 / Transit 5E-1 Success
Thor 385 1963-12-05 VA LC-75 Transit 5BN-2 / Transit 5E-3 Success
Thor 379 1964-04-21 VA LC-75 Transit 5BN-3 / Transit 5E-2 Failure
Thor 423 1964-10-06 VA LC-75 Transit-O 1/ Dragsphere 1 / Dragsphere 2
Thor 427 1964-12-13 VA LC-75 Transit-O 2 / Transit 5E-5
Thor 440 1965-03-11 VA LC-75 Transit-O 3 / SECOR 2 Partial success
Thor 447 1965-06-24 VA LC-75 Transit-O 4
Thor 455 1965-08-13 VA LC-75 Transit-O 5 / Dodecapole 2 / Long Rod / Tempsat 1 / Surcal 5 / Calsphere 2

Thor DSV-2D

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Thor DSV-2D (Thor 278, unflown) Johnston Island, Program 437

The DSV-2D was launched twice in 1962,[3] conducting suborbital research flights for the development of the Program 437 ASAT. It was a single-stage vehicle, consisting of a Thor DM-21. Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17A.

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Orbit
Thor 337 1962-01-15 CCAFS LC-17A Big Shot 1 (AVT 1) Suborbital
Thor 338 1962-07-18 CCAFS LC-17A Big Shot 2 (AVT 2) Suborbital

Thor DSV-2E

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The DSV-2E was a single-stage vehicle, using a Thor DM-19. It was launched eight times in 1962, including several nuclear weapons tests as part of Operation Fishbowl.[4] Four launches failed, all of which were carrying live nuclear warheads.[4] Launches were conducted from Launch Emplacements 1 and 2 on Johnston Atoll.

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Orbit Result
Thor 177 1962-05-02 Johnston LE-1 Tigerfish (R/D) Suborbital Success
Thor 199 1962-06-04 Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Suborbital Radar contact lost 5 minutes after launch. RSO destruct command sent.
Thor 193 1962-06-20 Johnston LE-1 Starfish Suborbital RVs caused turbine exhaust gas to enter the thrust section, overheating and weakening the engine mounts. Engine broke loose and ruptured the propellant tanks T+59 seconds. Warhead destroyed by RSO T+65 seconds.
Thor 195 1962-07-09 Johnston LE-1 Starfish Prime Suborbital Success
Thor 180 1962-07-26 Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Prime Suborbital Stuck LOX valve caused loss of thrust and fire on the launch stand. Range Safety Officer destroyed the missile and warhead. Launch area extensively contaminated with plutonium.
Thor 156 1962-10-16 Johnston LE-2 Bluegill Double Prime Suborbital Flight control failure T+85 seconds. RSO T+156 seconds.
Thor 141 1962-10-26 Johnston LE-1 Bluegill Triple Prime Suborbital Success
Thor 226 1962-11-01 Johnston LE-2 Kingfish Suborbital Success

Thor DSV-2F

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Thor DSV-2F (Thor 232) with ASSET-1 craft

The DSV-2F was a single-stage vehicle consisting of a Thor DM-19, like the DSV-2E. Three were launched between 1963 and 1964, as part of Project ASSET,[5] which involved launching a sub-scale mockup of the X-20 Dyna-Soar to test materials for the larger spacecraft. Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17B.

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Orbit Result
Thor 232 1963-09-18 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-1 (ASSET ASV 1) Suborbital Success
Thor 260 1964-10-28 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-4 (ASSET-AEV 1) Suborbital Success
Thor 247 1964-12-09 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-5 (ASSET-AEV 2) Suborbital Success

Thor DSV-2G

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Thor DSV-2G (Thor 250) with ASSET-3

The DSV-2G was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor DM-19 first stage, and a Delta second stage. Three were launched between 1964 and 1965 as part of Project ASSET.[6] Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17B.

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Orbit Result
Thor 240 1964-03-24 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-2 (ASSET-ASV 2) Suborbital Atmospheric flight, second stage fired intermittently, destroyed by range safety
Thor 250 1964-07-22 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-3 (ASSET-ASV 3) Suborbital Success
Thor 248 1965-02-23 CCAFS LC-17B ASSET-6 (ASSET-ASV 4) Suborbital Success

Thor DSV-2J

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The DSV-2J was an operational nuclear anti-satellite weapon. 18 were launched between 1964 and 1975.[7] Most flights were non-intercept tests of the rocket's anti-satellite capabilities, however some later launches carried research payloads. Launches were conducted from Launch Emplacements 1 and 2 on Johnston Atoll.

S/N Date Launch Site Payload Result
Thor 299 14.02.1964 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#1) Success
Thor 209 02.03.1964 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#2) Success
Thor 290 21.04.1964 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437 (#3) Success
Thor 227 28.05.1964 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437 (#4) Failure
Thor 236 16.11.1964 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#5) Success
Thor 155 05.04.1965 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437 (#6) Success
Thor 188 07.12.1965 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437AP (#1) Success
Thor 242 18.01.1966 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437AP (#2) Success
Thor 196 12.03.1966 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437AP (#3) Success
Thor 289 02.07.1966 Johnston LE-2 AFP-437AP (#4) Success
Thor 168 31.03.1967 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#7) Success
Thor 205 14.05.1968 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#8) Success
Thor 252 20.11.1968 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#9) Success
Thor 152 27.03.1970 Johnston LE-1 AFP-437 (#10) Success
Thor 225 24.04.1970 Johnston LE-2 SDP Partial Success
Thor 271 24.09.1970 Johnston LE-2 HAP/SXRE Success
Thor 201 19.09.1975 Johnston LE-2 BMDTTP 1 (DG-5) Success
Thor 274 06.11.1975 Johnston LE-2 BMDTTP 2 (DG-3) Success

References

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  1. ^ "Thor Family". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  2. ^ a b "Thor-DSV2A Able-Star". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  3. ^ "Thor-DSV2D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  4. ^ a b "Thor-DSV2E". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  5. ^ "Thor-DSV2F". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  6. ^ "Thor-LV2C Delta (Thor-DSV2G Delta)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ^ "Thor-DSV2J". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  • Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on February 28, 2002. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Thor family". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
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