List of Thor-Agena launches

Thor DM-18 Agena or just Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles. 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-Delta, which founded the Delta launch vehicle family. The first attempted launch of a Thor-Agena was on 28 February 1959. The first successful launch was on 13 April 1959, launching Discoverer 2. It was the first two-stage rocket to place a satellite into orbit.^[1]^[2]

Launch statistics

Launch outcome [edit] 4 8 12 16 20 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 Success Failure Partial failure	Launchpad [edit] 4 8 12 16 20 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 VAFB LC-75-3-4 VAFB LC-75-3-5 VAFB LC-75-1-1
Orbit [edit] 4 8 12 16 20 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 LEO MEO	Function [edit] 5 10 15 20 25 30 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 Reconnaissance Technology Amateur radio ELINT Ionospheric

Launch history

The data in this table comes from ^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]
Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
28 February 1959 21:49:16	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 163 Agena 1022	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 1	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Maiden flight of Thor-Agena A. Agena telemetry lost at T+730 seconds. Fate of the payload unknown, but generally presumed to have impacted somewhere in Antarctica.
13 April 1959 21:18:39	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 170 Agena 1018	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 2	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1959-06-03 20:09:20	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 174 Agena 1020	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 3	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena attitude control malfunction pointed the stage in the wrong direction, sending it into the Pacific Ocean rather than orbit.
1959-06-25 22:47:45	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 179 Agena 1023	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 4	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena developed insufficient thrust to attain orbital velocity.
1959-08-13 19:00:08	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 192 Agena 1029	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 5	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1959-08-19 19:24:44	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 200 Agena 1028	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 6	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1959-11-07 20:28:41	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 206 Agena 1051	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 7	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1959-11-20 19:25:24	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 212 Agena 1050	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 8	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule
1960-02-04 18:51:45	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 218 Agena 1052	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 9	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Premature Thor cutoff. Agena could not attain orbital velocity.
1960-02-19 20:15:14	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 223 Agena 1054	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 10	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Thor flight control malfunction. RSO T+52 seconds.
1960-04-15 20:30:37	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 234 Agena 1055	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 11	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1960-06-29 22:00:44	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 160 Agena 1053	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 12	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena attitude control malfunction.
1960-08-10 20:37:54	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 231 Agena 1057	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 13	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success	First successful recovery of a manmade object from orbit.
1960-08-18 19:57:08	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 237 Agena 1056	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 14	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1960-09-13 22:14	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Thor 246 Agena 1058	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 15	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1960-10-26 20:26	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 253 Agena 1061	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 16	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Maiden flight of Thor-Agena B. Agena staging failed. Vehicle fell into the Pacific Ocean.
1960-11-12 20:43	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 297 Agena 1062	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 17	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1960-12-07 20:20:58	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 296 Agena 1103	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 18	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1960-12-20 20:32	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 258 Agena 1101	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 19	Technology	LEO	Success
1961-02-17 20:25	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 298	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 20	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-02-18 22:58	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 261 Agena 1102	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 21	Technology	LEO	Success
1961-03-30 20:34:43	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 300 Agena 1105	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 22	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena control failure.
1961-04-08 19:21	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 307 Agena 1106	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 23	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-06-08 21:16	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 302 Agena 1108	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 24	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena power failure
1961-06-16 23:02	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 303 Agena 1107	VAFB, LC-75-1-1	Discoverer 25	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-07-07 23:29:48	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 308 Agena 1109	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 26	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-07-21 22:35	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 322 Agena 1110	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 27	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Open circuit in guidance computer led to loss of control and vehicle breakup at T+60 seconds.
1961-08-04 00:01	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 309 Agena 1111	VAFB, LC-75-1-1	Discoverer 28	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena control system malfunctioned
1961-08-30 20:00	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 323 Agena 1112	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 29	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-09-12 19:59	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 310 Agena 1113	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 30	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-09-17 21:00	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 324 Agena 1114	VAFB, LC-75-1-1	Discoverer 31	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-10-13 19:22	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 328 Agena 1115	VAFB, LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 32	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success	100th Thor launch
1961-10-23 19:23	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 329 Agena 1116	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 33	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena hydraulics failure
1961-11-05 20:00	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 330 Agena 1117	VAFB LC-75-1-1	Discoverer 34	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Incorrect guidance program left the satellite in a useless orbit.
1961-11-15 21:23	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 326 Agena 1118	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 35	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1961-12-12 20:40	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 325 Agena 1119	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 36 Oscar 1	Reconnaissance Amateur radio	LEO	Success
1962-01-13 21:41	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 327 Agena 1120	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 37	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Agena restart burn failed.
1962-02-21 18:44	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 332 Agena 2301	VAFB LC-75-3-5	FTV 2301	ELINT	LEO	Partial failure	Upper stage failed to restart for circularization burn
1962-02-27 19:39	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 241 Agena 1123	VAFB LC-75-3-4	Discoverer 38	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-04-18 00:54	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 331 Agena 1124	VAFB LC-75-3-5	Discoverer 39	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-04-29 00:30:12	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 333 Agena 1125	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1125	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-05-15 19:36	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 334 Agena 1126	VAFB LC-75-3-5	FTV 1126	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-05-30 01:00:04	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 336 Agena 1128	VAFB LC-75-1-1	FTV 1128	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-06-02 00:31	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 335 Agena 1127	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1127 Oscar 2	Reconnaissance Amateur radio	LEO	Success
1962-06-18 20:20	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 343 Agena 2312	VAFB, LC-75-3-5	FTV 2312	ELINT	LEO	Success
1962-06-23 00:30	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 339 Agena 1129	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1129	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-06-28 01:09	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 340 Agena 1151	VAFB LC-75-1-1	FTV 1151	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-07-21 00:56	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 342 Agena 1130	VAFB LC-75-3-5	FTV 1130	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-07-28 00:30	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 347 Agena 1131	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1131	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-08-02 00:17	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 344 Agena 1152	VAFB LC-75-1-1	FTV 1152	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-08-29 01:00	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 349 Agena 1153	VAFB LC-75-1-2	FTV 1153	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-09-01 20:39	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 348 Agena 1132	VAFB LC-75-3-5	FTV 1132	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-09-17 23:46	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 350 Agena 1133	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1133 ERS-2	Reconnaissance Technology	LEO	Success
1962-09-29 06:05	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 341 TA-1	VAFB LC-75-1-1	Alouette 1 TAVE	Ionospheric research satellite Technology	LEO	Success
1962-09-29 23:34:50	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 351 Agena 1154	VAFB LC-75-1-2	FTV 1154	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-10-09 18:35	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 352 Agena 1134	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1134	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-10-26 16:14	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 353 Agena 1401	VAFB LC-75-1-2	STARAD	Radiation	MEO	Success
1962-11-05 22:04	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 356 Agena 1136	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1136	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-11-24 22:01	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 367 Agena 1135	VAFB LC-75-3-4	FTV 1135	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-12-04 21:30	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 361 Agena 1155	VAFB LC-75-1-2	FTV 1155	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1962-12-13 04:07	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 365	VAFB LC-75-1-1	NRL PL120 Injun 3 NRL PL121 SURCAL 2 Calsphere 1	ELINT Ionospheric Calibration	MEO	Success
1962-12-14 21:26:07	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 368 Agena 1156	VAFB LC-75-3-5	FTV 1156	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1963-01-07 21:09:49	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 369 Agena 1157	VAFB LC-75-1-1	OPS 0048	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1963-01-16 21:59	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 363 Agena 2313	VAFB LC-75-3-5	OPS 0180	ELINT	LEO	Success
1963-04-01 23:01	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 376 Agena 1160	VAFB LC-75-3-5	OPS 0720	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1963-04-26 20:13	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 372 Agena 1411	VAFB LC-75-1-1	OPS 1008	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Attitude sensor alignment error results in no Agena orbit.
1963-06-15 14:29	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 378 Agena 2353	VAFB LC-75-1-1	FTV 1292 Solrad 6A LOFTI 2B Surcal 3 Radose 112	ELINT Radiation Ionospheric Calibration	LEO	Success
1963-07-19 00:00:10	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 388 Agena 1412	VAFB LC-75-1-1	OPS 1266	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1965-03-09 18:29	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 419 Agena 2701	VAFB SLC-2W	SECOR 3 / Dodecapole 1 / Poppy 4 / Solrad 7B / GGSE 2 / GGSE 3 / Surcal 4 / Oscar 3	Geodesic research / Radar calibration / ELINT / ELINT / Technological test / Technological test / Technological test / Amateur radio satellite	LEO	Success
1965-09-02 20:00	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 401 Agena 1602	VAFB LC-75-3-5	MPRV	Upper atmosphere and space experiments	planned: MEO	Failure	High winds caused the vehicle to drift off course. RSO T+43 seconds. Debris fell on a trailer park.
1965-11-29 04:48	Thor DM-21 Agena-B	Thor 453 Agena 6102	VAFB LC-75-1-1	Alouette 2 / Explorer 31 (DME)	Ionospheric research satellite / Ionospheric research satellite	MEO	Success
1967-05-31 09:30	Thor DM-21 Agena-D	Thor 443 Agena 2704	VAFB SLC-2W	Timation 1 / GGSE 4 / GGSE 5 / Poppy 5 / Calsphere 3 / Calsphere 4 / Surcal 152 / Surcal 153 / Surcal 150B	Experimental navigation satellite / Technological research satellite / ELINT / Technological research satellites (x5)	LEO	Success	Final flight of the original Thor-Agena series.

References

^ "Thor Agena A". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^ "Thor Agena B". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^ "Thor Agena". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Thor-DM18 Agena-A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Discoverer-14 1960-010A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ TRW Space Log. TRW Systems Group. 4 August 1960. pp. 10–12 – via Google Books.
^ "Thor-DM21 Agena-B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
^ "Thor-DM21 Agena-D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

[1] "Thor Agena A". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

[2] "Thor Agena B". astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

[3] "Thor Agena". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[4] "Thor-DM18 Agena-A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[5] "Discoverer-14 1960-010A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[6] TRW Space Log. TRW Systems Group. 4 August 1960. pp. 10–12 – via Google Books.

[7] "Thor-DM21 Agena-B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

[8] "Thor-DM21 Agena-D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

[1]

Launch statistics

Launch outcome

Launchpad

Orbit

Function

Launch history

References