Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles.[1] The launch vehicles used the Douglas-built Thor first stage and the Lockheed-built Agena second stages. They are thus cousins of the more-famous Thor-Deltas, which founded the Delta rocket family. The first attempted launch of a Thor-Agena was in January 1959. The first successful launch was on 28 February 1959, launching Discoverer 1. It was the first two-stage launch vehicle to place a satellite into orbit.
A Thor-Agena launch vehicle, ready to launch the Discoverer 37 (KH-3) spacecraft, 13 January 1962
Among other uses, the clandestine CORONA program used Thor-Agena from June 1959 until January 1968 to launch United States military reconnaissance satellites operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During this program, Thor-Agena launch vehicles were used in 145 launch attempts,[2] now known to have been part of satellite surveillance programs.
Also, Alouette 1,Canada's first satellite, was launched on a Thor-Agena B.
1963 Mystery Cloudedit
On 28 February 1963, a Thor-Agena launch vehicle carrying a spy satellite into orbit was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch vehicle went off course and mission control detonated the launch vehicle at an altitude of 44 km (27 mi) before it could reach orbit. The launch vehicle detonation produced a large circular cloud that appeared over the southwestern United States. Due to its mysterious nature, appearing at a very high altitude and being visible for hundreds of miles, the cloud attracted widespread attention and was published by the news media. The cloud was featured on the cover of Science Magazine in April 1963, Weatherwise Magazine in May 1963, and had a full page image published in the May issue of Life Magazine.[3][4] Prof. James MacDonald at the University of Arizona Institute for Atmospheric Physics investigated the phenomena and linked the it to the Thor launch vehicle launch after contacting military personnel at Vandenberg Air Force Base. When the launch records were later declassified, the United States Air Force released a memo explaining that the cloud was the result of a military operation.[5][6]
16 launches between 21 January 1959 and 13 September 1960
The Discoverer 14 satellite used in the CORONA spy satellite program was launched by a Thor-Agena A. On 19 August 1960, usable photographic film from the satellite was recovered by a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar recovery aircraft. This was the first successful recovery of film from an orbiting satellite and the first mid-air recovery of an object returning from Earth orbit.[8]
^Day, Dwayne; Logsdon, John; Latell, Brian (1998). Eye in the Sky: The Story of the Corona Spy Satellites. Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 236–245. OCLC 36783934.
^MacDonald, James (19 April 1963). "Stratospheric Cloud Over Northern Arizona". Science Magazine. Vol. 140, no. 3564. pp. 292–294. doi:10.1126/science.140.3564.292.b.
^"Mystery Cloud". Life Magazine. 14 May 1963. p. 73.
^Jackson, Jeff G. (26 January 1995), 30th Space Wing History, Vandenberg AFB, California: Department of the Air Force, pp. 1–2
^MacDonald, James (15 June 1963). "Cloud Ring In The Upper Stratosphere" (PDF). Weatherwise. pp. 99–148.
^"Display: Discoverer-14 1960-010A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
thor, agena, also, thor, rocket, family, thorad, agena, series, orbital, launch, vehicles, launch, vehicles, used, douglas, built, thor, first, stage, lockheed, built, agena, second, stages, they, thus, cousins, more, famous, thor, deltas, which, founded, delt. See also Thor rocket family and Thorad Agena Thor Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles 1 The launch vehicles used the Douglas built Thor first stage and the Lockheed built Agena second stages They are thus cousins of the more famous Thor Deltas which founded the Delta rocket family The first attempted launch of a Thor Agena was in January 1959 The first successful launch was on 28 February 1959 launching Discoverer 1 It was the first two stage launch vehicle to place a satellite into orbit A Thor Agena launch vehicle ready to launch the Discoverer 37 KH 3 spacecraft 13 January 1962FunctionExpendable launch systemCountry of originUnited StatesSizeHeightThor Agena A 28 m 92 ft Thor Agena B 31 m 102 ft Thor Agena D 31 m 102 ft Diameter2 44 m 8 ft 0 in MassThor Agena A 53 130 kg 117 130 lb Thor Agena B 56 507 kg 124 577 lb Thor Agena D 56 507 kg 124 577 lb Stages2Launch historyStatusRetiredLaunch sitesVandenberg Air Force BaseTotal launches145First flight21 January 1959Last flight17 January 1968 edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Missions 1 1 1963 Mystery Cloud 2 Versions 3 ReferencesMissions editAmong other uses the clandestine CORONA program used Thor Agena from June 1959 until January 1968 to launch United States military reconnaissance satellites operated by the Central Intelligence Agency CIA During this program Thor Agena launch vehicles were used in 145 launch attempts 2 now known to have been part of satellite surveillance programs Also Alouette 1 Canada s first satellite was launched on a Thor Agena B 1963 Mystery Cloud edit On 28 February 1963 a Thor Agena launch vehicle carrying a spy satellite into orbit was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base The launch vehicle went off course and mission control detonated the launch vehicle at an altitude of 44 km 27 mi before it could reach orbit The launch vehicle detonation produced a large circular cloud that appeared over the southwestern United States Due to its mysterious nature appearing at a very high altitude and being visible for hundreds of miles the cloud attracted widespread attention and was published by the news media The cloud was featured on the cover of Science Magazine in April 1963 Weatherwise Magazine in May 1963 and had a full page image published in the May issue of Life Magazine 3 4 Prof James MacDonald at the University of Arizona Institute for Atmospheric Physics investigated the phenomena and linked the it to the Thor launch vehicle launch after contacting military personnel at Vandenberg Air Force Base When the launch records were later declassified the United States Air Force released a memo explaining that the cloud was the result of a military operation 5 6 Versions editThor Agena A 7 16 launches between 21 January 1959 and 13 September 1960 The Discoverer 14 satellite used in the CORONA spy satellite program was launched by a Thor Agena A On 19 August 1960 usable photographic film from the satellite was recovered by a Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar recovery aircraft This was the first successful recovery of film from an orbiting satellite and the first mid air recovery of an object returning from Earth orbit 8 Thor Agena B 9 10 44 launches between 26 October 1960 and 15 May 1966 Includes a variant with Solid Rocket Boosters First successful launch 12 November 1960 with Discoverer 17 Last launch 15 May 1966 with Nimbus 2Thor Agena D 11 12 83 launches between 28 June 1962 and 17 January 1968 Includes a variant with Solid Rocket Boosters First launch 28 June 1962 with KH 4 19 Last launch 17 January 1968 with Multigroup 3 and Setter 1B 2References edit nbsp Spaceflight portal Thor Agena Day Dwayne Logsdon John Latell Brian 1998 Eye in the Sky The Story of the Corona Spy Satellites Smithsonian Institution Press pp 236 245 OCLC 36783934 MacDonald James 19 April 1963 Stratospheric Cloud Over Northern Arizona Science Magazine Vol 140 no 3564 pp 292 294 doi 10 1126 science 140 3564 292 b Mystery Cloud Life Magazine 14 May 1963 p 73 Jackson Jeff G 26 January 1995 30th Space Wing History Vandenberg AFB California Department of the Air Force pp 1 2 MacDonald James 15 June 1963 Cloud Ring In The Upper Stratosphere PDF Weatherwise pp 99 148 Thor DM18 Agena A Display Discoverer 14 1960 010A NASA 28 October 2021 Retrieved 5 November 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Thor DM21 Agena B Thor SLV2A Agena B Thor SLV2A Agena D Thor DM21 Agena D Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thor Agena amp oldid 1182623452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
