Thor-Able III Launch Vehicle
Thor-Able III was the three-stage configuration that successfully launched Explorer 6 into a highly elliptical orbit on 7 August 1959. Explorer 6 tested digital telemetry, studied radiation and magnetic fields, and transmitted an early image of Earth's cloud cover.
Identity
- Aliases
- Thor Able III
- Family Name
- Thor-Able III
- Full Name
- Thor-Able III Launch Vehicle
- Reusability
- expendable
- Slug
- thor-able-iii-launch-vehicle
- Status
- retired
- Type
- rocket
Details
- Description
- Thor-Able III was the three-stage configuration that successfully launched Explorer 6 into a highly elliptical orbit on 7 August 1959. Explorer 6 tested digital telemetry, studied radiation and magnetic fields, and transmitted an early image of Earth's cloud cover.
- Diameter M
- 2.44
- Engines
- Count
- 1
- Name
- Rocketdyne LR79
- Placement
- core
- Count
- 1
- Name
- Aerojet AJ10-101
- Placement
- upper
- Count
- 1
- Name
- ABL X-248
- Placement
- upper
- First Flight Year
- 1,959
- Last Flight Year
- 1,959
- Operator Id
- vh76vnx3yy1vy23j7zc3wk80wx7nhx5f
- Parent Vehicle Family Id
- nd7ngphv8e47jz05bdw73xvp2n8aet9v
- Stages Count
- 3
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- 7/13/2026, 12:56:10 PM
- Updated Time
- 7/13/2026, 12:56:10 PM