USAF Thor DM-21 Ablestar Courier 1B
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
Status
Success
Date
4 OCT 1960
17:50
Launch Provider
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 17B
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Mission Overview
An active repeater communications satellite. The vehicle succesfully launched and successfully operated for a few weeks proving the experimental system.
Rocket
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
Mission Type
Communications
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Stages
2
Livestream
Not availableRocket Details
The Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon was an early American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage. It was a member of the Thor family of rockets, and was derived from the Thor-Able.
Height
29 m
Diameter
1.44 m
Launch Mass
51 T
Thrust
760 kN