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.

Launch statistics Launch outcome Launchpad Orbit Function

Launch history +The data in this table comes from Date/Time(UTC) Rocket S/N Launch site Payload Function Orbit Outcome Remarks 28 February 195921:49:16 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 163Agena 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 195921:18:39 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 170Agena 1018 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 2 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-06-0320:09:20 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 174Agena 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. 1959-06-2522:47:45 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 179Agena 1023 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 4 Reconnaissance LEO Agena developed insufficient thrust to attain orbital velocity. 1959-08-1319:00:08 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 192Agena 1029 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 5 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-08-1919:24:44 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 200Agena 1028 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 6 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-11-0720:28:41 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 206Agena 1051 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 7 Reconnaissance LEO 1959-11-2019:25:24 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 212Agena 1050 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 8 Reconnaissance LEO Orbit too eccentric for use of return capsule 1960-02-0418:51:45 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. 1960-02-1920:15:14 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 223Agena 1054 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 10 Reconnaissance LEO Thor flight control malfunction. RSO T+52 seconds. 1960-04-1520:30:37 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 234Agena 1055 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 11 Reconnaissance LEO 1960-06-2922:00:44 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 160Agena 1053 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 12 Reconnaissance LEO Agena attitude control malfunction. 1960-08-1020:37:54 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 231Agena 1057 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 13 Reconnaissance LEO First successful recovery of a manmade object from orbit. 1960-08-1819:57:08 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 237Agena 1056 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 14 Reconnaissance LEO 1960-09-1322:14 Thor DM-18 Agena-A Thor 246Agena 1058 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 15 Reconnaissance LEO 1960-10-2620:26 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 253Agena 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. 1960-11-1220:43 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 297Agena 1062 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 17 Reconnaissance LEO 1960-12-0720:20:58 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 296Agena 1103 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 18 Reconnaissance LEO 1960-12-2020:32 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 258Agena 1101 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 19 Technology LEO 1961-02-1720:25 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 298 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 20 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-02-1822:58 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 261Agena 1102 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 21 Technology LEO 1961-03-3020:34:43 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 300Agena 1105 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 22 Reconnaissance LEO Agena control failure. 1961-04-0819:21 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 307Agena 1106 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 23 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-06-0821:16 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 302Agena 1108 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 24 Reconnaissance LEO Agena power failure 1961-06-1623:02 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 303Agena 1107 VAFB, LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 25 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-07-0723:29:48 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 308Agena 1109 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 26 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-07-2122:35 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 322Agena 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. 1961-08-0400:01 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 309Agena 1111 VAFB, LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 28 Reconnaissance LEO Agena control system malfunctioned 1961-08-3020:00 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 323Agena 1112 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 29 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-09-1219:59 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 310Agena 1113 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 30 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-09-1721:00 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 324Agena 1114 VAFB, LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 31 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-10-1319:22 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 328Agena 1115 VAFB, LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 32 Reconnaissance LEO 100th Thor launch 1961-10-2319:23 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 329Agena 1116 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 33 Reconnaissance LEO Agena hydraulics failure 1961-11-0520:00 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 330Agena 1117 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Discoverer 34 Reconnaissance LEO Incorrect guidance program left the satellite in a useless orbit. 1961-11-1521:23 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 326Agena 1118 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 35 Reconnaissance LEO 1961-12-1220:40 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 325Agena 1119 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 36Oscar 1 ReconnaissanceAmateur radio LEO 1962-01-1321:41 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 327Agena 1120 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 37 Reconnaissance LEO Agena restart burn failed. 1962-02-2118:44 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 332Agena 2301 VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 2301 ELINT LEO Upper stage failed to restart for circularization burn 1962-02-2719:39 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 241Agena 1123 VAFB LC-75-3-4 Discoverer 38 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-04-1800:54 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 331Agena 1124 VAFB LC-75-3-5 Discoverer 39 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-04-2900:30:12 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 333Agena 1125 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1125 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-05-1519:36 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 334Agena 1126 VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 1126 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-05-3001:00:04 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 336Agena 1128 VAFB LC-75-1-1 FTV 1128 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-06-0200:31 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 335Agena 1127 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1127Oscar 2 ReconnaissanceAmateur radio LEO 1962-06-1820:20 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 343Agena 2312 VAFB, LC-75-3-5 FTV 2312 ELINT LEO 1962-06-2300:30 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 339Agena 1129 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1129 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-06-2801:09 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 340Agena 1151 VAFB LC-75-1-1 FTV 1151 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-07-2100:56 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 342Agena 1130 VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 1130 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-07-2800:30 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 347Agena 1131 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1131 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-08-0200:17 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 344Agena 1152 VAFB LC-75-1-1 FTV 1152 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-08-2901:00 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 349Agena 1153 VAFB LC-75-1-2 FTV 1153 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-09-0120:39 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 348Agena 1132 VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 1132 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-09-1723:46 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 350Agena 1133 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1133ERS-2 ReconnaissanceTechnology LEO 1962-09-2906:05 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 341TA-1 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Alouette 1TAVE Ionospheric research satelliteTechnology LEO 1962-09-2923:34:50 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 351Agena 1154 VAFB LC-75-1-2 FTV 1154 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-10-0918:35 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 352Agena 1134 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1134 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-10-2616:14 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 353Agena 1401 VAFB LC-75-1-2 STARAD Radiation MEO 1962-11-0522:04 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 356Agena 1136 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1136 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-11-2422:01 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 367Agena 1135 VAFB LC-75-3-4 FTV 1135 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-12-0421:30 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 361Agena 1155 VAFB LC-75-1-2 FTV 1155 Reconnaissance LEO 1962-12-1304:07 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 365 VAFB LC-75-1-1 NRL PL120Injun 3NRL PL121SURCAL 2Calsphere 1 ELINTIonosphericCalibration MEO 1962-12-1421:26:07 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 368Agena 1156 VAFB LC-75-3-5 FTV 1156 Reconnaissance LEO 1963-01-0721:09:49 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 369Agena 1157 VAFB LC-75-1-1 OPS 0048 Reconnaissance LEO 1963-01-1621:59 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 363Agena 2313 VAFB LC-75-3-5 OPS 0180 ELINT LEO 1963-04-0123:01 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 376Agena 1160 VAFB LC-75-3-5 OPS 0720 Reconnaissance LEO 1963-04-2620:13 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 372Agena 1411 VAFB LC-75-1-1 OPS 1008 Reconnaissance LEO Attitude sensor alignment error results in no Agena orbit. 1963-06-1514:29 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 378Agena 2353 VAFB LC-75-1-1 FTV 1292Solrad 6ALOFTI 2BSurcal 3Radose 112 ELINTRadiationIonosphericCalibration LEO 1963-07-1900:00:10 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 388Agena 1412 VAFB LC-75-1-1 OPS 1266 Reconnaissance LEO 1965-03-0918:29 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 419Agena 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 1965-09-0220:00 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 401Agena 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. 1965-11-2904:48 Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor 453Agena 6102 VAFB LC-75-1-1 Alouette 2 / Explorer 31 (DME) Ionospheric research satellite / Ionospheric research satellite MEO 1967-05-3109:30 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Thor 443Agena 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.

References