List of Thor and Delta launches (1970–79)

From 1969 through 1978 (inclusive), Thor-Delta was NASA's most popular launcher, with 84 launch attempts.[1] NASA used it to launch its own satellites, and also to launch satellites for other government agencies and foreign governments on a cost reimbursable basis. Out of the 84 attempts there were seven failures or partial failures (91.6% successful).[2]

Here is an incomplete list of Thor and Delta launches in the 1970s.

1970

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1970-01-15
00:16		 Delta M Delta 75
Thor 557		 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-6 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1970-01-23
11:52		 Delta N6 Delta 76
Thor 542		 VAFB SLC-2W ITOS 1 / Oscar 5 Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1970-02-04
02:59		 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 534
Agena Unknown		 VAFB SLC-2E SERT 2 Technological demonstration satellite MEO Successful
1970-02-11
08:40		 Thor Burner 2 Thor 287 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1970-03-04
22:15		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 551
Agena 1657		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1109) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1970-03-20
23:46		 Delta M Delta 77
Thor 558		 CCAFS SLC-17A NATO 1 Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1970-03-27
07:37		 Thor DSV-2J Thor 152 Johnston LE-1 ASAT test Suborbital Success
1970-04-08
08:17		 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 553
Agena 6223		 VAFB SLC-2E Nimbus 4 / TOPO-1 Weather satellite / Geodesic research satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1970-04-23
00:46		 Delta M Delta 78
Thor 559		 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-7 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1970-04-24
 Thor DSV-2J Thor 225 Johnston LE-1 Satellite Inspection test Suborbital Failure Thor collided with satellite.
1970-05-20
21:35		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 555
Agena 1657		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1110) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1970-07-23
01:25		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 556
Agena 1654		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1111) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1970-07-23
23:23		 Delta M Delta 79
Thor 563		 CCAFS SLC-17A Intelsat 3-8 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1970-08-19
12:11		 Delta M Delta 80
Thor 561		 CCAFS SLC-17A Skynet-1B Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1970-08-26
10:01		 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 535
Agena 2736		 VAFB SLC-1W Ferret 15 (OPS 8329) ELINT LEO Successful
1970-09-03
08:39		 Thor Burner 2 Thor 288 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1970-09-24
12:54		 Thor DSV-2J Thor 271 Johnston LE-2 Astronomy research flight Suborbital Successful
1970-11-18
21:29		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 552
Agena 1658		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1112) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1970-12-11
11:35		 Delta N6 Delta 81
Thor 546		 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-1 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO Successful

1971

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1971-02-03
01:41		 Delta M Delta 82
Thor 560		 CCAFS SLC-17A NATO 2 Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1971-02-17
03:52		 Thor Burner 2 Thor 249 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5A-F3 / Calsphere 3A / Calsphere 4 / Calsphere 5 Military weather satellite / Technology demonstration (x3) LEO / SSO Successful
1971-02-17
20:04		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 537
Agena 1659		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1113) Reconnaissance LEO Failure Improper pre-flight procedure caused frozen lubricant to form a plug that resulted in complete turbopump failure 18 seconds after liftoff. The booster lost thrust and impacted the ground not far from the launch complex.
1971-03-13
16:15		 Delta M6 Delta 83
Thor 562		 CCAFS SLC-17A Explorer 43 (IMP-H) Magnetosphere research satellite HEO Successful
1971-03-24
21:05		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 538
Agena 1660		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1114) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1971-04-01
02:53		 Delta E1 Delta 84
Thor 491		 VAFB SLC-2E ISIS-II Ionosphere research satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1971-06-08
14:00		 Thor Burner 2 Thor 210 VAFB SLC-10W SESP-1 (P70-1) Technological demonstration satellite LEO Successful
1971-07-16
21:29		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 552
Agena 1658		 VAFB SLC-1W Ferret 16 (OPS 8373) ELINT LEO Successful
1971-09-10
21:33		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 567
Agena 1662		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1115) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1971-09-29
09:50		 Delta N Delta 85
Thor 565		 CCAFS SLC-17A OSO 7 / TTS-4 Solar observation satellite / Technology demonstration LEO, 321×572 km, 93.2 min, i=33.1°, e=0.0184 Successful 2nd stage suffered a failure of the attitude control system, however the satellite reached orbit and ground controllers were able to correct its flight path.[3]
1971-10-14
07:51		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 159 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1971-10-17
13:36		 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 570
Agena Unknown		 VAFB SLC-1W ASTEX (P71-2) Technological demonstration satellite LEO Successful
1971-10-21
11:32		 Delta N6 Delta 86
Thor 572		 VAFB SLC-2E ITOS-B Weather Satellite planned: LEO / SSO Failure 2nd stage oxidizer leak starting at T+20 seconds. The attitude control system ran out of propellant trying to correct the stage's flight path and the launch vehicle reentered the atmosphere and broke up above the Arctic Circle.
1971-12-14
21:13		 Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D Thor 568
Agena Unknown		 VAFB SLC-1W Poppy (OPS 7898) (x4) ELINT LEO Successful Final flight of SLV-2G

1972

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1972-01-31
17:20		 Delta L Delta 87
Thor 564		 VAFB SLC-2E HEOS-2 Magnetosphere research satellite HEO Successful
1972-03-12
00:00		 Delta N Delta 88
Thor 573		 VAFB SLC-2E TD-1A Astronomical research satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1972-03-24
08:46		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 153 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1972-04-19
21:43		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 569
Agena 1661		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1116) Reconnaissance LEO Successful
1972-05-25
18:41		 Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D Thor 571
Agena 1663		 VAFB SLC-3W KH-4B (S/N 1117) Reconnaissance LEO Successful Final flight of Thorad-Agena
Last Corona spacecraft
1972-07-23
18:06		 Delta 904[4] Delta 89
Thor 574		 VAFB SLC-2W Landsat 1 Earth Resource Technology Satellite 917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous. Successful, decommissioned Jan. 6, 1978. First use of 9 strap-on SRBs. Discovered Landsat Island.
1972-09-23
13:20		 Delta 1604 Delta 90
Thor 579		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 47 (IMP-I) Magnetospheric research satellite HEO Successful, operated until October 31, 1978 First successful flight of Delta-1000 series.
1972-10-15
17:17		 Delta 300 Delta 91
Thor 575		 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-2 / Oscar 6 Weather Satellite / Amateur Radio Satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1972-11-09
03:43		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 294 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F3 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1972-11-10
01:14		 Delta 1914 Delta 92
Thor 580		 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A1 Communication Satellite GTO Successful
1972-12-11
07:56		 Delta 900 Delta 93
Thor 577		 VAFB SLC-2W Nimbus-5 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO Successful

1973

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1973-04-20
23:47		 Delta 1914 Delta 94
Thor 583		 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A2 Communication Satellite GTO Successful
1973-06-10
14:13		 Delta 1913 Delta 95
Thor 581		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 49 (RAE-B) Radio astronomy satellite Lunar Orbit Successful
1973-07-16
17:10		 Delta 300 Delta 96
Thor 578		 VAFB SLC-2W ITOS-E Weather Satellite planned: LEO / SSO Failure Hydraulic pump malfunction led to failure of the 2nd stage attitude control system. The booster and payload reentered the atmosphere and broke up.
1973-08-17
04:49		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 291 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F4 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1973-10-26
02:26		 Delta 1604 Delta 97
Thor 582		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 50 (IMP-J) Magnetospheric research satellite HEO Successful
1973-11-06
14:02		 Delta 300 Delta 98
Thor 576		 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-3 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1973-12-16
06:18		 Delta 1900 Delta 99
Thor 585		 VAFB SLC-2W Explorer 51 (AE-C) Atmospheric research satellite MEO Successful

1974

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1974-01-19
01:38		 Delta 2313 Delta 100
Thor 587		 CCAFS SLC-17B Skynet-2A Military communication satellite planned: GTO Failure First flight of the Delta 2000 series. Stage 2 electronics package short circuited (induced by a piece of conductive contaminant shaken loose during launch), leading to loss of control.
1974-03-16
08:00		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 207 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5B-F5 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1974-04-13
21:33		 Delta 2914 Delta 101
Thor 588		 CCAFS SLC-17B Westar-1 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1974-05-17
10:31		 Delta 2914 Delta 102
Thor 590		 CCAFS SLC-17B SMS-1 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1974-08-09
03:22		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 275 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1974-10-10
22:53		 Delta 2914 Delta 103
Thor 589		 CCAFS SLC-17B Westar-2 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1974-11-15
17:11		 Delta 2310 Delta 104
Thor 592		 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-4 / Oscar 7 / Intasat Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite / Ionosphere research LEO / SSO Successful
1974-11-23
00:28		 Delta 2313 Delta 105
Thor 591		 CCAFS SLC-17B Skynet-2B Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1974-12-19
02:39		 Delta 2914 Delta 106
Thor 599		 CCAFS SLC-17B Symphonie-1 Communication satellite GTO Successful

1975

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1975-01-22
17:56		 Delta 2910 Delta 107
Thor 598		 VAFB SLC-2W Landsat 2 Earth Resource Technology Satellite 917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous. Successful Satellite operated until Feb 25, 1982.
1975-02-06
22:04		 Delta 2914 Delta 108
Thor 593		 CCAFS SLC-17B SMS-2 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1975-04-10
23:50		 Delta 1410 Delta 109
Thor 584		 VAFB SLC-2W GEOS-C Geodetic research satellite LEO Successful
1975-05-07
23:35		 Delta 2914 Delta 110
Thor 596		 CCAFS SLC-17B Anik-A3 Communication Satellite GTO Successful
1975-05-24
03:22		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 197 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1975-06-12
08:12		 Delta 2910 Delta 111
Thor 595		 VAFB SLC-2W Nimbus-6 Weather Satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1975-06-21
11:43		 Delta 1910 Delta 112
Thor 586		 CCAFS SLC-17B OSO-8 Solar observation satellite LEO Successful
1975-08-09
01:47		 Delta 2913 Delta 113
Thor 602		 VAFB SLC-2W COS-B High-energy astronomy research satellite HEO Successful
1975-09-09
05:30		 N-I N-1 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N ETS-1 (Kiku-1) Technological demonstration satellite MEO Successful First Japanese licensed built Delta flight.
1975-08-27
01:42		 Delta 2914 Delta 114
Thor 594		 CCAFS SLC-17A Symphonie-2 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1975-09-19
 Thor DSV-2J Thor 201 Johnston LE-2 Missile defense test tracking target Suborbital Successful
1975-10-06
09:01		 Delta 2910 Delta 115
Thor 600		 VAFB SLC-2W Explorer 54 (AE-D) Atmospheric research satellite MEO Successful
1975-10-16
22:40		 Delta 2914 Delta 116
Thor 597		 CCAFS SLC-17B GOES-1 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1975-11-06
 Thor DSV-2J Thor 274 Johnston LE-2 Missile defense test tracking target Suborbital Successful Last sub-orbital Thor series flight
1975-11-20
02:06		 Delta 2910 Delta 117
Thor 604		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 55 (AE-E) Atmospheric research satellite MEO Successful
1975-12-13
01:56		 Delta 3914 Delta 118
Thor 607		 CCAFS SLC-17A Satcom-1 Communication satellite GTO Successful First flight of the Delta 3000 series.

1976

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1976-01-17
23:28		 Delta 2914 Delta 119
Thor 606		 CCAFS SLC-17B CTS 1 Hermes Experimental communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-02-19
07:52		 Thor Burner 2A Thor 182 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5C-F3 Military weather satellite planned: LEO / SSO Failure Thor stage not loaded with enough kerosene fuel due to incorrect LR79 main engine data sheet entry. Satellite re-entered after one orbit.
1976-02-19
22:32		 Delta 2914 Delta 120
Thor 603		 CCAFS SLC-17B Marisat-1 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-02-29
03:30		 N-I N-2 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N ISS-1 (Ume-1) Ionospheric research satellite MEO Successful
1976-03-26
22:42		 Delta 3914 Delta 121
Thor 610		 CCAFS SLC-17A Satcom-2 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-04-22
20:46		 Delta 2914 Delta 122
Thor 608		 CCAFS SLC-17B NATO 3A Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-05-04
08:00		 Delta 2913 Delta 123
Thor 609		 VAFB SLC-2W LAGEOS-1 Geodesic research satellite MEO Successful
1976-06-10
00:09		 Delta 2914 Delta 124
Thor 601		 CCAFS SLC-17A Marisat-2 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-07-08
23:31		 Delta 2914 Delta 125
Thor 611		 CCAFS SLC-17A Palapa-A1 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1976-07-29
17:07		 Delta 2310 Delta 126
Thor 605		 VAFB SLC-2W NOAA-5 Weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1976-09-11
08:00		 Thor DSV-2U Thor 172 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5D-F1 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1976-10-14
22:44		 Delta 2914 Delta 127
Thor 614		 CCAFS SLC-17A Marisat-3 Communication satellite GTO Successful

1977

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1977-01-28
00:49		 Delta 2914 Delta 128
Thor 613		 CCAFS SLC-17A NATO 3B Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1977-02-23
08:50		 N-I N-3 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N ETS-2 (Kiku-2) Experimental communication satellite GTO Successful
1977-03-10
23:16		 Delta 2914 Delta 129
Thor 612		 CCAFS SLC-17A Palapa-A2 Communication satellite GTO Successful
1977-04-20
10:15		 Delta 2914 Delta 130
Thor 617		 CCAFS SLC-17B ESA-GEOS-1 Magnetosphere research satellite planned: GTO Partial Failure Premature separation of second and third stages led to failure of Stage 3 spin up.
1977-06-05
02:59		 Thor DSV-2U Thor 183 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5D-F2 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1977-06-16
10:51		 Delta 2914 Delta 131
Thor 616		 CCAFS SLC-17B GOES-2 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1977-07-14
14:56		 Delta 2914 Delta 132
Thor 618		 CCAFS SLC-17B GMS-1 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1977-08-25
23:50		 Delta 2313 Delta 133
Thor 615		 CCAFS SLC-17B Sirio-1 Experimental communication satellite GTO Successful
1977-09-13
23:21		 Delta 3914 Delta 134
Thor 619		 CCAFS SLC-17A OTS-1 Experimental communication satellite planned: GTO Failure Launch vehicle exploded at T+52 seconds due to a rupture of the SRM #1 casing.
1977-10-22
13:53		 Delta 2914 Delta 135
Thor 623		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 56 (ISEE-A / B) Magnetospheric research satellites HEO Successful
1977-11-23
01:35		 Delta 2914 Delta 136
Thor 620		 CCAFS SLC-17A Meteosat-1 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1977-12-15
00:47		 Delta 2914 Delta 137
Thor 624		 CCAFS SLC-17B CS-1 Experimental communication satellite GTO Successful

1978

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1978-01-28
17:36		 Delta 2914 Delta 138
Thor 613		 CCAFS SLC-17A Explorer 57 (International Ultraviolet Explorer) Astronomical observatory satellite HEO Successful Satellite operational until 1996.
1978-02-15
04:00		 N-I N-4 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N ISS-2 (Ume-2) Ionospheric research satellite MEO Successful
1978-03-05
17:54		 Delta 2910 Delta 139
Thor 621		 VAFB SLC-2W Landsat 3 Earth Resource Technology Satellite 917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous. Successful Satellite decommissioned on March 21, 1983.
1978-04-07
22:01		 Delta 2914 Delta 140
Thor 626		 CCAFS SLC-17B BSE-1[5] Direct-broadcast satellite GTO (167×35844 km, i=27°, 631 min) Successful First of Japanese BSE series, also known as "Yuri 1".
1978-05-01
03:05		 Thor DSV-2U Thor 143 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5D-F3 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1978-05-11
22:59		 Delta 3914 Delta 141
Thor 627		 CCAFS SLC-17A OTS-2 Experimental communication satellite GTO Successful
1978-06-16
10:49		 Delta 2914 Delta 142
Thor 625		 CCAFS SLC-17B GOES-3 Weather satellite GTO Successful
1978-07-14
10:43		 Delta 2914 Delta 143
Thor 631		 CCAFS SLC-17A ESA-GEOS-2 Magnetosphere research satellite GTO Successful
1978-08-12
15:12		 Delta 2914 Delta 144
Thor 633		 CCAFS SLC-17B Explorer 59 (ISEE-3) Magnetospheric research satellite HEO to Sun-Earth L1 halo orbit
Eventually shifted to heliocentric		 Successful First satellite to use Lagrangian point and halo orbit
Later re-classified as the International Cometary Explorer. Satellite still operational as of 2014.[6]
1978-10-24
08:14		 Delta 2910 Delta 145
Thor 630		 VAFB SLC-2W Nimbus-7 / CAMEO Weather Satellite / Ionosphere research LEO / SSO Successful
1978-11-19
00:46		 Delta 2914 Delta 146
Thor 634		 CCAFS SLC-17B NATO 3C Military communication satellite GTO Successful
1978-12-16
00:21		 Delta 3914 Delta 147
Thor 632		 CCAFS SLC-17A Anik-B1 Communication Satellite GTO Successful

1979

Date/Time
(UTC)		 Rocket S/N Launch Site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks
1979-01-30
21:42		 Delta 2914 Delta 148
Thor 629		 CCAFS SLC-17B SCATHA (P78-2) Military technological research satellite HEO Successful
1979-02-06
08:46		 N-I N-5 (F) Tanegashima SLC-N ECS-A (Ayame 1) Experimental communication satellite planned: GTO Failure Recontact between satellite and upper stage.
1979-06-06
18:22		 Thor DSV-2U Thor 264 VAFB SLC-10W DMSP-5D-F4 Military weather satellite LEO / SSO Successful
1979-08-10
00:20		 Delta 2914 Delta 149
Thor 638		 CCAFS SLC-17A Westar-3 Communication Satellite GTO Successful
1979-12-07
01:35		 Delta 3914 Delta 150
Thor 622		 CCAFS SLC-17A Satcom-3 Communication satellite GTO Successful

See also

Delta (rocket family)

  1. ↑ "NASA Historical Data Book, Vol. III". NASA.
  2. ↑ "Listing of Thor-Delta Vehicles". NASA.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Chronology of Thor-Delta Development and Operations ] NASA
  5. ↑ NSSDC
  6. ↑ Morin, Monte (August 9, 2014). "Vintage ISEE-3 satellite makes long-awaited flyby on Sunday". The Los Angeles Times.
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