Encyclopedia entry

Thor Delta D

Launch vehicle · USA

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

American orbital launch vehicle. Four stage vehicle consisting of 3 x Castor + 1 x Thor DSV-2C + 1 x Delta D + 1 x Altair 2

LEO Payload: 450 kg (990 lb). Payload: 104 kg (229 lb) to a GTO. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 12.720 million.

Stage Data - Delta D

Stage 0. 3 x Castor 1. Gross Mass: 3,852 kg (8,492 lb). Empty Mass: 535 kg (1,179 lb). Thrust (vac): 286.001 kN (64,296 lbf). Isp: 247 sec. Burn time: 27 sec. Isp(sl): 232 sec. Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Span: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Length: 5.92 m (19.42 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: M33-20-4. Status: Out of Production.

Stage 1. 1 x Delta Thor TA. Gross Mass: 49,442 kg (109,000 lb). Empty Mass: 3,175 kg (6,999 lb). Thrust (vac): 866.710 kN (194,844 lbf). Isp: 290 sec. Burn time: 150 sec. Isp(sl): 256 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-3-3. Other designations: Thrust Augmented Thor. 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 2. Gross Mass: 275 kg (606 lb). Empty Mass: 37 kg (81 lb). Thrust (vac): 22.241 kN (5,000 lbf). Isp: 266 sec. Burn time: 28 sec. Isp(sl): 242 sec. Diameter: 0.64 m (2.09 ft). Span: 0.64 m (2.09 ft). Length: 2.53 m (8.30 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: X-258. Status: Out of Production.

Photo Gallery

2 events

12:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta D.

Syncom 3 - . Payload: Syncom C. 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: 1974-12-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 858 . COSPAR: 1964-047A. Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Perigee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min.
NASA's Syncom III synchronous communications satellite was launched into orbit by a Thrust Augmented Thor/Delta (TAD) launch vehicle in its first use as a space booster. Also carried Star Flash experiment. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 64 deg W in 1964; 180 deg E in 1964; 25 deg W in 1965; 165 deg E in 1966-1969. Last known longitude (6 December 1974) 6.08 deg W drifting at 0.188 deg W per day.

23:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta D.

Intelsat 1 F-1 - . Payload: Early Bird. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Nation: International. Agency: INTELSAT. Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: HS 303. Spacecraft: Intelsat 1. Completed Operations Date: 1971-01-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 1317 . COSPAR: 1965-028A. Apogee: 35,819 km (22,256 mi). Perigee: 35,746 km (22,211 mi). Inclination: 11.70 deg. Period: 1,435.90 min.
Over Atlantic. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 28 deg W in 1965; 38 deg W in 1965-1966. As of 27 July 2001 located at 92.54 deg W drifting at 0.324 deg W per day. As of 2007 Jan 13 located at 47.74W drifting at 0.017E degrees per day.