USAF Thor DM-21 Ablestar Transit 2A
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
Status
Success
Date
22 JUN 1960
05:54
Launch Provider
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 17B
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Mission Overview
The Transit system was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was primarily used by the U.S. Navy to provide accurate location information to its Polaris ballistic missile submarines, and it was also used as a navigation system by the Navy's surface ships, as well as for hydrographic survey and geodetic surveying.
Rocket
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
Mission Type
Navigation
Orbit
Polar 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