Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

Thor Burner 1

Launch vehicle · USA

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

Thor Burner Launch 2
Thor Burner Launch 2
Pictures of the second Burner I launch (believed to be from launch pad 6). The first Burner I bird had a black second stage. This was an orbital launch with a permanent orbit, no recovery. I guess the thing is now space junk. A fully successful launch with all objectives met. Launch date was Thursday, March 17, 1965 sometime between 2100hrs and 2105hrs Vandenberg time. The night launch time of 2100 hrs with a 5 minute launch window was the same for both the first and second Burner I launches.
Credit: Larry Rhoads

American orbital launch vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Thor DM-18A + 1 x FW4S

More at: Thor Burner 1.

Country
USA
Spacecraft
DMSP Block 4A
Projects
DMSP
Agency
Douglas

Chronology

4 events

1965 May 20

16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 1.
  • DMSP-Block-4A F3 - . Payload: DAPP 12 / OPS 8386. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Decay Date: 2012-03-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 1377 . COSPAR: 1965-038A. Apogee: 731 km (454 mi). Perigee: 503 km (312 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 97.10 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1965 September 10

04:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 1.
  • DMSP-Block-4A F4 - . Payload: DAPP 13 / OPS 8068. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. USAF Sat Cat: 1580 . COSPAR: 1965-072A. Apogee: 993 km (617 mi). Perigee: 635 km (394 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 101.20 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1966 January 8

04:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 1. FAILURE: Second stage failed.. Failed Stage: 2.
  • DMSP-Block-4A F5 - . Payload: DAPP 14/OPS 2394. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Decay Date: 1966-01-06 . Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1966 March 31

05:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 1.
  • DMSP-Block-4A F6 - . Payload: DAPP 15 / OPS 0340. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. USAF Sat Cat: 2125 . COSPAR: 1966-026A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 604 km (375 mi). Inclination: 98.30 deg. Period: 99.40 min. The last Thor/Altair (Burner I) was launched from Vandenberg AFB. The improved Burner II would replace the Altair upper stage. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..