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 outcome | Launchpad | |
Orbit | Function |
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 1959-06-03 20:09:20 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 174 Agena 1020 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 3 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | ||
| 1959-08-19 19:24:44 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 200 Agena 1028 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 6 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1959-11-07 20:28:41 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 206 Agena 1051 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 7 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1959-11-20 19:25:24 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 212 Agena 1050 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 8 | Reconnaissance | LEO | Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule | |
| 1960-02-04 18:51:45 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 218 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 9 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | ||
| 1960-06-29 22:00:44 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 160 Agena 1053 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 12 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | ||
| 1960-09-13 22:14 | Thor DM-18 Agena-A | Thor 246 Agena 1058 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 15 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1960-10-26 20:26 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 253 Agena 1061 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 16 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | ||
| 1960-12-07 20:20:58 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 296 Agena 1103 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 18 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1960-12-20 20:32 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 258 Agena 1101 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 19 | Technology | LEO | ||
| 1961-02-17 20:25 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 298 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 20 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1961-02-18 22:58 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 261 Agena 1102 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 21 | Technology | LEO | ||
| 1961-03-30 20:34:43 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 300 Agena 1105 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 22 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | ||
| 1961-06-08 21:16 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 302 Agena 1108 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 24 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | ||
| 1961-07-07 23:29:48 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 308 Agena 1109 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 26 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1961-07-21 22:35 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 322 Agena 1110 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 27 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | ||
| 1961-09-12 19:59 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 310 Agena 1113 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 30 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1961-09-17 21:00 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 324 Agena 1114 | VAFB, LC-75-1-1 | Discoverer 31 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1961-10-13 19:22 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 328 Agena 1115 | VAFB, LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 32 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 1962-01-13 21:41 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 327 Agena 1120 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | Discoverer 37 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | 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 | ||
| 1962-04-18 00:54 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 331 Agena 1124 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | Discoverer 39 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-04-29 00:30:12 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 333 Agena 1125 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1125 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-05-15 19:36 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 334 Agena 1126 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | FTV 1126 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-05-30 01:00:04 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 336 Agena 1128 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1128 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 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 | ||
| 1962-06-18 20:20 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 343 Agena 2312 | VAFB, LC-75-3-5 | FTV 2312 | ELINT | LEO | ||
| 1962-06-23 00:30 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 339 Agena 1129 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1129 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-06-28 01:09 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 340 Agena 1151 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1151 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-07-21 00:56 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 342 Agena 1130 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | FTV 1130 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-07-28 00:30 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 347 Agena 1131 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1131 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-08-02 00:17 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 344 Agena 1152 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | FTV 1152 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-08-29 01:00 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 349 Agena 1153 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1153 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-09-01 20:39 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 348 Agena 1132 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | FTV 1132 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 1962-09-29 23:34:50 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 351 Agena 1154 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1154 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-10-09 18:35 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 352 Agena 1134 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1134 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-10-26 16:14 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 353 Agena 1401 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | STARAD | Radiation | MEO | ||
| 1962-11-05 22:04 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 356 Agena 1136 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1136 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-11-24 22:01 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 367 Agena 1135 | VAFB LC-75-3-4 | FTV 1135 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1962-12-04 21:30 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 361 Agena 1155 | VAFB LC-75-1-2 | FTV 1155 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 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 | ||
| 1962-12-14 21:26:07 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 368 Agena 1156 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | FTV 1156 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-01-07 21:09:49 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 369 Agena 1157 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 0048 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-01-16 21:59 | Thor DM-21 Agena-B | Thor 363 Agena 2313 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | OPS 0180 | ELINT | LEO | ||
| 1963-04-01 23:01 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 376 Agena 1160 | VAFB LC-75-3-5 | OPS 0720 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 1963-04-26 20:13 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 372 Agena 1411 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 1008 | Reconnaissance | LEO | 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 | ||
| 1963-07-19 00:00:10 | Thor DM-21 Agena-D | Thor 388 Agena 1412 | VAFB LC-75-1-1 | OPS 1266 | Reconnaissance | LEO | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | Final flight of the original Thor-Agena series. | |