Rocket DB

Thor family

Thor Delta E

RetiredUnited StatesMcDonnell DouglasSpec: Delta E

American orbital launch vehicle family with Thor first stage and a delta second stage.

Flights flown6
Success rate100%6/6
Payload to LEO540kg
Cost per kg to LEO$25,796$13.9M per launch
Maiden flight1965-11-06
Peak year19652 flights

Thor Delta E is built by McDonnell Douglas of the United States. It first flew on 6 November 1965 and last flew on 20 April 1967.

Flight record

6 records
100% success rate6 of 6 flown
1965peak 1965 · 2 flights1967
First flight1965-11-06
Latest flight1967-04-20
Failures0
Consecutive successes6
Fastest turnaround39d 12h

Payload

Per mission profile
Low Earth orbit540kg
Geostationary transfer orbit150kg
Launch cost$13.9M
Cost per kg to LEO$25,796

Vehicle

Delta E spec
Stages3
Length31m
Diameter2.44m
Launch mass69t
Liftoff thrust1,452kN
Maiden flight1965-11-06
ReusableNo

Pads used

3 pads
Space Launch Complex 2E3Space Launch Complex 17A2Space Launch Complex 17B1

Orbits delivered

3 orbits
Sun-Synchronous Orbit4Heliocentric N/A1Low Earth Orbit1

Launch history

6 launches
DateMissionPadOrbitOutcome
1967-04-20Thor Delta E | ESSA 5Space Launch Complex 2ESun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1967-01-26Thor Delta E | ESSA 4Space Launch Complex 2ESun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1966-10-02Thor Delta E | ESSA 3Space Launch Complex 2ESun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1966-02-28Thor Delta E | ESSA 2Space Launch Complex 17BSun-Synchronous OrbitSuccess
1965-12-16Thor Delta E | Pioneer 6Space Launch Complex 17AHeliocentric N/ASuccess
1965-11-06Thor Delta E | GEOS ASpace Launch Complex 17ALow Earth 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