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Thor Delta B

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Delta B no. 22
Delta B no. 22
Delta B no. 22 - COSPAR 1963-054

American orbital launch vehicle. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DM-21 + 1 x AJ10-118A + 1 x Altair

LEO Payload: 370 kg (810 lb). Payload: 68 kg (149 lb) to a GTO. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 9.590 million.

Stage Data - Delta B

  • Stage 1. 1 x Thor DM-21. Gross Mass: 48,354 kg (106,602 lb). Empty Mass: 2,948 kg (6,499 lb). Thrust (vac): 760.643 kN (170,999 lbf). Isp: 285 sec. Burn time: 164 sec. Isp(sl): 250 sec. Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Span: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Length: 18.41 m (60.40 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: MB-3-1. Status: Out of Production.
  • Stage 2. 1 x Delta D. Gross Mass: 2,693 kg (5,937 lb). Empty Mass: 545 kg (1,201 lb). Thrust (vac): 33.695 kN (7,575 lbf). Isp: 278 sec. Burn time: 170 sec. Diameter: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Span: 0.84 m (2.75 ft). Length: 5.58 m (18.30 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: AJ10-118D. Status: Out of Production.
  • Stage 3. 1 x Altair 1. Gross Mass: 238 kg (524 lb). Empty Mass: 30 kg (66 lb). Thrust (vac): 12.450 kN (2,799 lbf). Isp: 256 sec. Burn time: 38 sec. Isp(sl): 233 sec. Diameter: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Span: 0.46 m (1.50 ft). Length: 1.83 m (6.00 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: X-248. Status: Out of Production.

Related

Country
USA
Spacecraft
TIROS, Telstar, Relay, Syncom, AE, BE
Projects
Explorer
Agency
Douglas

Chronology

9 events

1962 December 13

23:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Relay 1 - . Payload: NASA A-15. Mass: 78 kg (171 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Relay. USAF Sat Cat: 503 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Upsilon-1. Apogee: 7,440 km (4,620 mi). Perigee: 1,319 km (819 mi). Inclination: 47.50 deg. Period: 185.10 min. Communications satellite technology tests. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1963 February 14

05:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Syncom 1 - . Payload: Syncom 1. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: HS 301. Spacecraft: Syncom. Completed Operations Date: 1963-02-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 553 . COSPAR: 1963-004A. Apogee: 36,739 km (22,828 mi). Perigee: 34,392 km (21,370 mi). Inclination: 33.30 deg. Period: 1,425.50 min.

    During firing of the apogee kick motor, contact was lost with the satellite. Syncom (Synchronous Communications) was a NASA project supported by DoD ground stations and communications experiments. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Four score. Last known longitude (10 March 1987) 172.58 deg E drifting at 2.429 deg E per day.

1963 April 3

02:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Explorer 17 - . Payload: AE A (S-6). Mass: 185 kg (407 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere satellite. Spacecraft: AE. Decay Date: 1966-11-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 564 . COSPAR: 1963-009A. Apogee: 891 km (553 mi). Perigee: 254 km (157 mi). Inclination: 57.60 deg. Period: 96.10 min. Atmospheric research. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .

1963 May 7

11:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Telstar 2 - . Mass: 79 kg (174 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ATT. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Telstar. USAF Sat Cat: 573 . COSPAR: 1963-013A. Apogee: 10,802 km (6,712 mi). Perigee: 972 km (603 mi). Inclination: 42.70 deg. Period: 225.30 min. Active repeater. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1963 June 19

09:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Tiros 7 - . Payload: Tiros G (A-52). Mass: 135 kg (297 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Tiros. Decay Date: 1994-06-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 604 . COSPAR: 1963-024A. Apogee: 349 km (216 mi). Perigee: 338 km (210 mi). Inclination: 58.20 deg. Period: 91.40 min. Returned over 150000 cloud cover images. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C)..

1963 July 26

14:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Syncom 2 - . Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: HS 301. Spacecraft: Syncom. Completed Operations Date: 1969-04-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 634 . COSPAR: 1963-031A. Apogee: 35,891 km (22,301 mi). Perigee: 35,891 km (22,301 mi). Inclination: 32.70 deg. Period: 1,441.50 min.

    NASA's Syncom II synchronous communications satellite was placed in orbit by a Thor/Delta launched from Cape Canaveral. Experimental commsat; first geosynchronous satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 55 deg W in 1963; 26 deg W in 1965. Last known longitude (19 July 1995) 68.47 deg E drifting at 0.089 deg W per day.

1963 December 21

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Tiros 8 - . Payload: Tiros H (A-53). Mass: 119 kg (262 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Tiros. USAF Sat Cat: 716 . COSPAR: 1963-054A. Apogee: 705 km (438 mi). Perigee: 667 km (414 mi). Inclination: 58.50 deg. Period: 98.50 min. Returned more than 100,000 cloud cover images. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C)..

1964 January 21

21:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B.
  • Relay 2 - . Payload: Relay B. Mass: 78 kg (171 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Relay. USAF Sat Cat: 737 . COSPAR: 1964-003A. Apogee: 7,540 km (4,680 mi). Perigee: 1,961 km (1,218 mi). Inclination: 46.40 deg. Period: 194.70 min. Experimental commsat. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1964 March 19

11:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta B. FAILURE: Insufficient third stage thrust.. Failed Stage: 3.
  • Explorer (20) - . Payload: Beacon Explorer A. Mass: 54 kg (119 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: BE. Decay Date: 1964-03-19 . Also known as Explorer S-66..