Rocket DB

Thor family

Thor Burner 2A

RetiredUnited StatesMcDonnell DouglasSpec: Burner 2A

The Thor-Burner was an American expendable launch system, a member of the Thor rocket family. It consisted of a Thor missile, with one or two Burner upper stages.

Flights flown8
Success rate100%8/8
Maiden flight1971-10-14
Peak year19722 flights

Thor Burner 2A is built by McDonnell Douglas of the United States. It first flew on 14 October 1971 and last flew on 19 February 1976.

Flight record

8 records
100% success rate8 of 8 flown
1971peak 1972 · 2 flights1976
First flight1971-10-14
Latest flight1976-02-19
Failures0
Consecutive successes8
Fastest turnaround145d 19h

Vehicle

Burner 2A spec
Stages3
Length23m
Diameter2.44m
Launch mass50t
Liftoff thrust750kN
Maiden flight1971-10-14
ReusableNo

Pads used

1 pad
Space Launch Complex 10W8

Orbits delivered

1 orbit
Sun-Synchronous Orbit8

Launch history

8 launches
DateMissionPadOrbitOutcome
1976-02-19Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5C F3Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1975-05-24Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5C F2Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1974-08-09Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5C F1Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1974-03-16Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5B F5Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1973-08-17Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5B F4Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1972-11-09Thor Burner 2A | DSAP-5B F3Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1972-03-24Thor Burner 2A | DMSP-5B F2Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1971-10-14Thor Burner 2A | DSAP-5B F1Space Launch Complex 10WSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess

Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.

Further reading: Wikipedia