Thor DM-21 Ablestar (United States Air Force)
The Thor DM-21 Ablestar is a non-reusable, inactive launch vehicle manufactured by United States Air Force (established in 1947). It undertook its inaugural launch on 04/13/1960.
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.
Thor DM-21 Ablestar Specifications
| Variant | DM-21 |
|---|---|
| Length | 29 m |
| Diameter | 1.44 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 51 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 760 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 150 kg |
Thor DM-21 Ablestar Launch Record
| Total Launches | 19 |
|---|---|
| Successful Launches | 13 |
| Failed Launches | 6 |
| Consecutive Successful Launches | 5 |
Manufacturer
Commander-in-Chief: President of the US
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the United States Armed Forces in 1947 with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947.