List of Thor-Agena launches
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Thor_Agena_B_with_Discoverer_37_on_launch_pad_%28Jan._13_1962%29.jpg/220px-Thor_Agena_B_with_Discoverer_37_on_launch_pad_%28Jan._13_1962%29.jpg)
A Thor-Agena launch vehicle, ready to launch the Discoverer 37 (KH-3) spacecraft, on 13 January 1962
Thor DM-18 Agena or just Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles. 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-Delta, which founded the Delta launch vehicle family. The first attempted launch of a Thor-Agena was on 28 February 1959. The first successful launch was on 13 April 1959, launching Discoverer 2. It was the first two-stage rocket to place a satellite into orbit.[1][2]
Launch statistics[]
Launch outcome[] |
Launchpad[] |
Orbit[] |
Function[]
|
Launch history[]
Date/Time (UTC) |
Rocket | S/N | Launch Site | Payload | Function | Orbit | Outcome | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 February 1959 21:49:16 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 163 Agena 1022 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Maiden flight of Thor-Agena A. Agena telemetry lost at T+730 seconds. Fate of the payload unknown, but generally presumed to have impacted somewhere in Antarctica. |
13 April 1959 21:18:39 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 170 Agena 1018 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 2 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1959-06-03 20:09:20 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 174 Agena 1020 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 3 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena attitude control malfunction pointed the stage in the wrong direction, sending it into the Pacific Ocean rather than orbit. |
1959-06-25 22:47:45 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 179 Agena 1023 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena developed insufficient thrust to attain orbital velocity. |
1959-08-13 19:00:08 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 192 Agena 1029 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1959-08-19 19:24:44 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 200 Agena 1028 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 6 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1959-11-07 20:28:41 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 206 Agena 1051 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 7 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1959-11-20 19:25:24 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 212 Agena 1050 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 8 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule |
1960-02-04 18:51:45 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 218 Agena 1052 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 9 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Premature Thor cutoff. Agena could not attain orbital velocity. |
1960-02-19 20:15:14 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 223 Agena 1054 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 10 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Thor flight control malfunction. RSO T+52 seconds. |
1960-04-15 20:30:37 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 234 Agena 1055 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 11 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1960-06-29 22:00:44 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 160 Agena 1053 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 12 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena attitude control malfunction. |
1960-08-10 20:37:54 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 231 Agena 1057 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 13 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | First successful recovery of a manmade object from orbit. |
1960-08-18 19:57:08 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 237 Agena 1056 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 14 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1960-09-13 22:14 |
Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 246 Agena 1058 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 15 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1960-10-26 20:26 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 253 Agena 1061 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 16 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Maiden flight of Thor-Agena B. Agena staging failed. Vehicle fell into the Pacific Ocean. |
1960-11-12 20:43 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 297 Agena 1062 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 17 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1960-12-07 20:20:58 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 296 Agena 1103 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 18 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1960-12-20 20:32 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 258 Agena 1101 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 19 | Technology | LEO | Success | |
1961-02-17 20:25 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 298 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 20 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-02-18 22:58 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 261 Agena 1102 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 21 | Technology | LEO | Success | |
1961-03-30 20:34:43 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 300 Agena 1105 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 22 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena control failure. |
1961-04-08 19:21 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 307 Agena 1106 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 23 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-06-08 21:16 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 302 Agena 1108 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 24 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena power failure |
1961-06-16 23:02 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 303 Agena 1107 |
VAFB, LC-75-1-1 | Discoverer 25 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-07-07 23:29:48 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 308 Agena 1109 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 26 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-07-21 22:35 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 322 Agena 1110 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 27 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Open circuit in guidance computer led to loss of control and vehicle breakup at T+60 seconds. |
1961-08-04 00:01 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 309 Agena 1111 |
VAFB, LC-75-1-1 | Discoverer 28 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena control system malfunctioned |
1961-08-30 20:00 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 323 Agena 1112 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 29 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-09-12 19:59 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 310 Agena 1113 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 30 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-09-17 21:00 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 324 Agena 1114 |
VAFB, LC-75-1-1 | Discoverer 31 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-10-13 19:22 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 328 Agena 1115 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 32 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | 100th Thor launch |
1961-10-23 19:23 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 329 Agena 1116 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 33 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena hydraulics failure |
1961-11-05 20:00 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 330 Agena 1117 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Discoverer 34 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Incorrect guidance program left the satellite in a useless orbit. |
1961-11-15 21:23 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 326 Agena 1118 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 35 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1961-12-12 20:40 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 325 Agena 1119 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 36 |
Reconnaissance Amateur radio |
LEO | Success | |
1962-01-13 21:41 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 327 Agena 1120 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 37 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | Agena restart burn failed. |
1962-02-21 18:44 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 332 Agena 2301 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | ELINT | LEO | Partial failure | Upper stage failed to restart for circularization burn | |
1962-02-27 19:39 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 241 Agena 1123 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 38 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1962-04-18 00:54 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 331 Agena 1124 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 39 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | |
1962-04-29 00:30:12 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 333 Agena 1125 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-05-15 19:36 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 334 Agena 1126 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-05-30 01:00:04 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 336 Agena 1128 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-06-02 00:31 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 335 Agena 1127 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance Amateur radio |
LEO | Success | ||
1962-06-18 20:20 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 343 Agena 2312 |
VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | ELINT | LEO | Success | ||
1962-06-23 00:30 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 339 Agena 1129 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-06-28 01:09 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 340 Agena 1151 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-07-21 00:56 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 342 Agena 1130 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-07-28 00:30 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 347 Agena 1131 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-08-02 00:17 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 344 Agena 1152 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-08-29 01:00 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 349 Agena 1153 |
VAFB LC-75-1-2 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-09-01 20:39 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 348 Agena 1132 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-09-17 23:46 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 350 Agena 1133 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | ERS-2 |
Reconnaissance Technology |
LEO | Success | |
1962-09-29 06:05 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 341 TA-1 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Alouette 1 |
Ionospheric research satellite Technology |
LEO | Success | |
1962-09-29 23:34:50 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 351 Agena 1154 |
VAFB LC-75-1-2 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-10-09 18:35 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 352 Agena 1134 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-10-26 16:14 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 353 Agena 1401 |
VAFB LC-75-1-2 | Radiation | MEO | Success | ||
1962-11-05 22:04 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 356 Agena 1136 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-11-24 22:01 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 367 Agena 1135 |
VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-12-04 21:30 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 361 Agena 1155 |
VAFB LC-75-1-2 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1962-12-13 04:07 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 365 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Injun 3 |
ELINT Ionospheric Calibration |
MEO | Success | |
1962-12-14 21:26:07 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 368 Agena 1156 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1963-01-07 21:09:49 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 369 Agena 1157 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1963-01-16 21:59 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 363 Agena 2313 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | ELINT | LEO | Success | ||
1963-04-01 23:01 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 376 Agena 1160 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1963-04-26 20:13 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 372 Agena 1411 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Failure | 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 | Surcal 3 |
ELINT Radiation Ionospheric Calibration |
LEO | Success | |
1963-07-19 00:00:10 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 388 Agena 1412 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Success | ||
1965-03-09 18:29 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 419 Agena 2701 |
VAFB SLC-2W | / / Poppy 4 / Solrad 7B / / / Surcal 4 / | Geodesic research / Radar calibration / ELINT / ELINT / Technological test / Technological test / Technological test / Amateur radio satellite | LEO | Success | |
1965-09-02 20:00 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 401 Agena 1602 |
VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Upper atmosphere and space experiments | planned: MEO | Failure | High winds caused the vehicle to drift off course. RSO T+43 seconds. Debris fell on a trailer park. | |
1965-11-29 04:48 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 453 Agena 6102 |
VAFB LC-75-1-1 | Alouette 2 / Explorer 31 (DME) | Ionospheric research satellite / Ionospheric research satellite | MEO | Success | |
1967-05-31 09:30 |
Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 443 Agena 2704 |
VAFB SLC-2W | / / / Poppy 5 / / / / / | Experimental navigation satellite / Technological research satellite / ELINT / Technological research satellites (x5) | LEO | Success | Final flight of the original Thor-Agena series. |
References[]
- ^ "Thor Agena A". astronautix.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "Thor Agena B". astronautix.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "Thor Agena". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Thor-DM18 Agena-A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Discoverer-14 1960-010A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ TRW Space Log. TRW Systems Group. 4 August 1960. pp. 10–12 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Thor-DM21 Agena-B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Thor-DM21 Agena-D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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