Engineering:Delta A

From HandWiki
Delta A
Thor Delta A with Explorer 14 (Oct. 2, 1962).gif
Delta A launching Explorer 14
FunctionExpendable launch system
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesCape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-17
Total launches2
Successes2
First flight2 October 1962
Last flight27 October 1962

The Delta A, or Thor-Delta A was an American expendable launch system used to launch two Explorer spacecraft in October 1962. A derivative of the Thor-Delta, it was a member of the Delta family of launch vehicles. The Thor-Delta itself was a Thor booster with an Able second stage and Altair third stage.[1][2]

The first stage was a Thor missile in the DM-21 configuration, and the second stage was the Delta-A, an uprated version of the original Delta. An Altair solid rocket motor was used as a third stage. Both launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) Launch Complex 17B, and were successful. The first launched Explorer 14, and the second Explorer 15.

References

  1. Wade, Mark. "Delta". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/delta.htm. 
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "Thor family". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/thor.htm.