Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
(Redirected from Complex 17)
 SLC-17 in February 2007. On Pad 17B is a Delta II carrying THEMIS as its payload. In the background is the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 28°26′48″N 80°33′58″W / 28.44667°N 80.56611°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force NASA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 28°-57° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Active pads
Active pads not used for launches
Inactive leased pads
Inactive unleased pads
Space Launch Complex 17[1][2] (SLC-17), previously designated Launch Complex 17 (LC-17), was a launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida used for Thor and Delta launch vehicles launches between 1958 and 2011.
Originally built in 1956, SLC-17 features two expendable launch vehicle (ELV) launch pads, SLC-17A and SLC-17B. The pads were operated by the 45th Space Wing and have supported more than 300 Department of Defense, NASA and commercial missile and rocket launches.
History
[edit]SLC-17 was built in 1956 by the United States Air Force for use with the PGM-17 Thor missile, the first operational ballistic missile in the arsenal of the United States. It was initially designed for testing suborbital launches of the Thor, in accordance to the IRBM's planned stationing in the United Kingdom as part of Project Emily. Pad 17A supported its first Thor missile launch on 3 August 1957, and Pad 17B supported its first Thor launch on 25 January 1957. As the Thor got wound down from missile use due to the advent of longer-range ICBMs, the site was upgraded in the early 1960s to support a variety of space-oriented launch vehicles derived from the basic Thor booster. Initially starting with the Thor-Able in 1958, these Thor-based rockets came to be called the Delta family of launch vehicles.
Thirty-five early Delta rocket missions were launched from Complex 17 between the beginning of 1960 and the end of 1965. The Air Force transferred Launch Complex 17A to NASA in 1965, but the site was returned to the military in 1988 to support McDonnell Douglas's Delta II program.
As Delta II launches continued over the next decades, Pad 17B was modified in 1997 to support a new, more powerful launch vehicle, the Delta III, which made its maiden flight from the complex on 26 August 1998. The launch ended in failure, as did a second launch the next year. After a third launch on 23 August 2000 placed a mass simulator into a lower than planned orbit, the program was abandoned.
Among the major NASA missions launched from the complex were the Explorer and Pioneer space probes, all of the Orbiting Solar Observatories, the Solar Maximum Mission, biological satellites (Biosatellite program), the International Cometary Explorer (ICE), the TIROS and GOES meteorology satellites, and the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
Following the last military launch, in August 2009, SLC-17A was withdrawn from use, and LC-17B was transferred to NASA for two remaining launches. On 10 September 2011, a Delta II 7920H-10C made the final launch from SLC-17B, carrying NASA's GRAIL spacecraft. All remaining Delta II launches were made from SLC-2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California until its ultimate retirement in 2018.
At 11:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. EDT) on 12 July 2018, both launch towers had been demolished via controlled demolition to make way for Moon Express to build and test its lunar lander.[3]
As of August 2024, the United States Space Force (having taken over the Air Force's jurisdiction) plans to fully demolish SLC-17 and the neighboring LC-18 in favor of extending Lighthouse Road and reconnecting its two separate sections back together.[4]
Launch statistics
[edit]SLC-17A
[edit]1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
'57
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
'09
Thor and early Delta
[edit]Thor, Thor-Able, and Thor-Ablestar launches operated by the United States Air Force. Thor-Delta launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 August 1957 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | First launch from LC-17A. Control malfunction ultimately led to vehicle breakup 92 seconds after launch. |
| 2 | 3 October 1957 | 17:14 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Gas generator failed to start because of stuck valve, leading to rocket falling back onto pad and exploding. |
| 3 | 24 October 1957 | 16:32 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | First successful flight from LC-17A. |
| 4 | 19 December 1957 | 20:12 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 5 | 28 January 1958 | 20:16 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Electrical malfunction resulted in control failure, leading to range safety protocols being activated 152 seconds after launch. |
| 6 | 24 April 1958 | 00:10 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able | Suborbital test | Failure | Maiden flight of the Thor-Able. Turbopump failure occurred 146 seconds after launch, leading to vehicle breakup. |
| 7 | 10 July 1958 | 15:06 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 8 | 23 July 1958 | 22:13 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able | Suborbital test | Success | Nose cone contained a mouse as a biological experiment. Reentry vehicle was not recovered. |
| 9 | 17 August 1958 | 12:18 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-I | Pioneer 0 | Failure | First mission of the Pioneer program, aiming to study the Moon from orbit. First orbital launch of a Thor rocket and first American attempt to send a spacecraft to another celestial body. Turbopump failure occurred 73 seconds after launch, leading to vehicle breakup. |
| 10 | 11 October 1958 | 08:42 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-I | Pioneer 1 | Partial failure | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study the Moon from orbit. First ever payload operated by NASA. Third stage underperformed, leading to satellite being placed on very steep suborbital trajectory. Set distance record for an artificial object by time of launch. |
| 11 | 8 November 1958 | 08:42 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-I | Pioneer 2 | Failure | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study the Moon from orbit. Third stage failed to ignite, placing payload on suborbital trajectory. |
| 12 | 23 January 1959 | Unknown | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Failure | Electrical malfunction caused staging failure. |
| 13 | 28 February 1959 | 07:58 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 14 | 21 March 1959 | 06:19 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 15 | 8 April 1959 | 06:35 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 16 | 21 May 1959 | 06:40 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 17 | 11 June 1959 | 06:44 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 18 | 7 August 1959 | 14:24 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-III | Explorer 6 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study trapped radiation from space. First successful orbital launch from LC-17A. Captured first images of Earth from orbit. |
| 19 | 17 September 1959 | 14:34 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Transit 1A | Failure | First launch of the Transit Satellite System.. Third stage malfunction, failing to place payload in orbit. |
| 20 | 1 April 1960 | 11:40 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | TIROS-1 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. First ever weather satellite, and final launch of the Thor-Able. |
| 21 | 13 May 1960 | 09:16 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Echo 1 | Failure | Part of Project Echo, aimed at experimenting with passive communication. Maiden flight of the Thor-Delta. Upper stage altitude control malfunction resulted in loss of mission. |
| 22 | 12 August 1960 | 09:39 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Echo 1A | Success | Part of Project Echo, aimed at experimenting with passive communication. Reflight of Echo 1. Hardware built as part of the mission include the Holmdel Horn Antenna, which later was used to discover the cosmic microwave background. |
| 23 | 23 November 1960 | 11:13 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-2 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 24 | 23 March 1961 | 15:17 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Explorer 10 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere and plasma. |
| 25 | 12 July 1961 | 10:25 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-3 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 26 | 16 August 1961 | 03:21 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Explorer 12 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere and the solar wind. |
| 27 | 15 January 1962 | 11:07 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2D | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 28 | 8 February 1962 | 12:43 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-4 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 29 | 7 March 1962 | 16:06 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | OSO-1 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 30 | 26 April 1962 | 18:00 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Ariel 1 | Success | Satellite aimed at studying Earth's ionosphere. First British satellite, making them the third nation to have a spacecraft in orbit, after the Soviet Union and the United States. |
| 31 | 19 June 1962 | 12:19 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-5 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 32 | 19 July 1962 | 09:30 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2D | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 33 | 18 September 1962 | 08:53 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-6 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. Final flight of the baseline Thor-Delta. |
| 34 | 31 October 1962 | 08:08 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | ANNA 1B | Success | Only flight of the Thor-Ablestar from LC-17A. |
| 35 | 13 December 1962 | 23:30 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Relay 1 | Success | |
| 36 | 3 April 1963 | 02:00 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Explorer 17 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's upper atmosphere. |
| 37 | 26 July 1963 | 14:33 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Syncom 2 | Success | Part of the Syncom series of experimental communication satellites. First satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit. |
| 38 | 19 March 1964 | 11:13 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Explorer S-66 | Failure | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study Earth's ionosphere. Underperforming of third stage caused failure to reach orbit. |
| 39 | 19 August 1964 | 12:15 | Delta D | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Syncom 3 | Success | Part of the Syncom series of experimental communication satellites. First satellite to be placed in geostationary orbit. |
| 40 | 4 October 1964 | 03:45 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Explorer 21 | Partial failure | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. Payload deployed in lower than expected orbit. |
| 41 | 21 December 1964 | 09:00 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Explorer 26 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere. |
| 42 | 22 January 1965 | 07:55 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | TIROS-9 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 43 | 6 April 1965 | 23:45 | Delta D | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Intelsat I | Success | Commercial communications satellite, also known as "Early Bird". Performed first transoceanic television broadcast. First commercial launch from LC-17. |
| 44 | 6 November 1965 | 18:43 | Delta E | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2 | Explorer 29 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study geodesy from orbit. |
| 45 | 16 December 1965 | 07:31 | Delta E | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2 | Pioneer 6 | Success | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study interplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer A. First of five heliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. First Delta launch going beyond geostationary orbit. |
| 46 | 3 February 1966 | 07:41 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | ESSA-1 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 47 | 1 July 1966 | 16:04 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Explorer 33 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere. |
| 48 | 17 August 1966 | 15:20 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 7 | Success | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study interplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer B. Second of five heliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. |
| 49 | 14 December 1966 | 19:26 | Delta G | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E | Biosatellite 1 | Success | First of three launches of the Biosatellite program, studying how various lifeforms operate in space. |
| 50 | 8 March 1967 | 16:19 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | OSO-3 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 51 | 19 September 1968 | 00:09 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-1 | Failure | Gyroscope failure lead to loss of control 20 seconds after launch, shortly after activating RSO protocols 110 seconds after launch. |
| 52 | 19 December 1968 | 00:32 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-2 | Success | |
| 53 | 6 February 1969 | 00:39 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-3 | Success | |
| 54 | 22 May 1969 | 02:00 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-4 | Success | |
| 55 | 29 June 1969 | 13:26 | Delta N | Thor LTT / Delta-E | Biosatellite 3 | Success | Third of three launches of the Biosatellite program, studying how various lifeforms operate in space. |
| 56 | 26 July 1969 | 02:06 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-5 | Partial failure | Third stage ruptured, leaving payload in unusable orbit. |
| 57 | 27 August 1969 | 21:59 | Delta L | Thor LTT / Delta-E / FW-1D | Pioneer E | Failure | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study interplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Fifth of five heliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. Hydraulic fluid leak led to loss of gimbaling in first stage, preventing second stage from reaching orbit. RSO protocols activated 480 seconds after launch. |
| 58 | 22 November 1969 | 00:37 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Skynet 1A | Success | |
| 59 | 15 January 1970 | 00:16 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-6 | Success | |
| 60 | 23 March 1970 | 23:46 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | NATO 1 | Success | |
| 61 | 23 April 1970 | 00:46 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-7 | Success | |
| 62 | 23 July 1970 | 23:23 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Intelsat 3-8 | Success | |
| 63 | 19 August 1970 | 12:11 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Skynet 1B | Success | |
| 64 | 3 February 1971 | 01:41 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | NATO 2 | Success | |
| 65 | 13 March 1971 | 16:15 | Delta M6 | Thor LTT / Delta-E / Star 37D | Explorer 43 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere. |
| 66 | 29 September 1971 | 09:50 | Delta N | Thor LTT / Delta-E | OSO-7 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. Second stage encountered altitude control system failure, but satellite reached orbit and flight path was corrected. Final Delta launch from LC-17 using lettered designations. |
Later Delta I
[edit]All launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 27 August 1975 | 01:42 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Symphonie-2 | Success | First Delta launch from LC-17A using a numerical designation. |
| 68 | 13 December 1975 | 01:56 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-1 | Success | |
| 69 | 26 March 1976 | 22:42 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-2 | Success | |
| 70 | 10 June 1976 | 00:09 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Marisat-2 | Success | |
| 71 | 8 July 1976 | 23:31 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Palapa-A1 | Success | |
| 72 | 14 October 1976 | 22:44 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Marisat-3 | Success | |
| 73 | 10 March 1977 | 23:16 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | NATO 3B | Success | |
| 74 | 13 September 1977 | 23:21 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | OTS-1 | Failure | Rupture in casing of a solid rocket booster lead to loss of launch vehicle 52 seconds after launch. |
| 75 | 23 November 1977 | 01:35 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Meteosat-1 | Success | |
| 76 | 26 January 1978 | 17:36 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | International Ultraviolet Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorer program, a space telescope designed to conduct ultraviolet astronomy. Collaboration between NASA, ESA, and SERC. |
| 77 | 11 May 1978 | 22:59 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | OTS-2 | Success | |
| 78 | 14 July 1978 | 10:43 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | ESA-GEOS-2 | Success | |
| 79 | 16 December 1978 | 00:21 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Anik-B1 | Success | |
| 80 | 10 August 1979 | 00:20 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Westar-3 | Success | |
| 81 | 7 December 1979 | 01:35 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-3 | Success | |
| 82 | 14 February 1980 | 15:57 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Solar Maximum Mission | Success | Heliophysics satellite designed to investigate solar phenomena such as solar flares. Was later visited by Space Shuttle Challenger during STS-41-C in order to have its altitude control system repaired. |
| 83 | 9 September 1980 | 22:27 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-4 | Success | Launched as GOES-D. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 84 | 15 November 1980 | 22:49 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | SBS-1 | Success | |
| 85 | 22 May 1981 | 22:29 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-5 | Success | Launched as GOES-E. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 86 | 24 September 1981 | 23:09 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | SBS-2 | Success | |
| 87 | 20 November 1981 | 01:37 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Satcom 3R | Success | |
| 88 | 16 January 1982 | 01:54 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Satcom 4 | Success | |
| 89 | 26 February 1982 | 00:04 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Westar 4 | Success | |
| 90 | 10 April 1982 | 06:47 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Insat 1A | Success | |
| 91 | 9 June 1982 | 00:24 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Westar 5 | Success | |
| 92 | 28 April 1983 | 22:26 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-6 | Success | Launched as GOES-F. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 93 | 28 July 1983 | 22:49 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Telstar-3A | Success | |
| 94 | 22 September 1983 | 22:16 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Galaxy 2 | Success | |
| 95 | 16 August 1984 | 14:30 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3924 | AMPTE-CCE | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's magnetosphere. |
| 96 | 14 November 1984 | 00:34 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | NATO 3D | Success | |
| 97 | 3 May 1986 | 22:18 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-G | Failure | Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. First stage electric failure lead to loss of control and destruction of rocket 90 seconds after launch. |
| 98 | 26 February 1987 | 23:05 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-7 | Success | Launched as GOES-H. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. Final Delta I launch from LC-17A. |
Delta II
[edit]Launches before August 1997 operated by McDonnell Douglas. Launches between then and 2007 operated by Boeing. Launches since 2007 operated by United Launch Alliance.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 14 February 1989 | 18:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-35 (GPS II-1) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. Maiden flight of the Delta II. First GPS Block II launch. First GPS launch from a Delta rocket and first GPS launch from Cape Canaveral. |
| 100 | 10 June 1989 | 22:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-38 (GPS II-2) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 101 | 18 August 1989 | 05:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-42 (GPS II-3) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 102 | 21 October 1989 | 09:31 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-47 (GPS II-4) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 103 | 24 January 1990 | 22:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-50 (GPS II-6) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 104 | 26 March 1990 | 02:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-54 (GPS II-7) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 105 | 1 June 1990 | 21:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6920-10 | ROSAT | Success | Space telescope designed to conduct x-ray astronomy. Collaboration between NASA and DLR. |
| 106 | 2 August 1990 | 05:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-63 (GPS II-8) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 107 | 1 October 1990 | 21:56 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-64 (GPS II-9) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 108 | 26 November 1990 | 21:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-66 (GPS IIA-1) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. First Delta II 7000 launch. |
| 109 | 4 July 1991 | 02:32 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-71 (GPS IIA-2) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 110 | 7 June 1992 | 16:40 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6920-10 | Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorer program, a space telescope designed at conducting ultraviolet astronomy. |
| 111 | 24 July 1992 | 14:26 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | Geotail | Success | Satellite designed to study Earth's magnetosphere, a collaboration between NASA and ISAS. Final launch of the Delta II 6000. |
| 112 | 9 September 1992 | 08:57 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-84 (GPS IIA-6) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 113 | 22 November 1992 | 23:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-85 (GPS IIA-7) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 114 | 3 February 1993 | 02:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-88 (GPS IIA-9) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 115 | 30 March 1993 | 03:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-90 (GPS IIA-10) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 116 | 13 May 1993 | 00:07 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-91 (GPS IIA-11) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 117 | 26 June 1993 | 13:27 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-92 (GPS IIA-12) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 118 | 8 December 1993 | 00:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | NATO 4B | Success | |
| 119 | 10 March 1994 | 03:40 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-100 (GPS IIA-15) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 120 | 30 December 1995 | 13:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorer program, designed to conduct x-ray astronomy through tracking timing from sources. |
| 121 | 16 July 1996 | 00:50 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-126 (GPS IIA-17) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 122 | 12 September 1996 | 08:49 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-128 (GPS IIA-18) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 123 | 7 November 1996 | 17:00 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Mars Global Surveyor | Success | First launch of the Mars Exploration Program, designed to study the titular planet and characteristics like geology and climate from orbit. First Delta II launch to another planet, and first successful American mission to Mars since Viking 2 in 1975. |
| 124 | 17 January 1997 | 16:28 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | GPS IIR-1 | Failure | Part of the Global Positioning System. Burnthrough in one of the solid rocket boosters activated range safety protocols 13 seconds after launch, damaging and scattering debris across the pad, nearby cars, and the adjacent Air Force Space and Missile Museum. |
| 125 | 20 May 1997 | 22:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Thor II | Success | |
| 126 | 23 July 1997 | 03:43 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-132 (GPS IIR-2) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. Last Delta II flight operated by McDonnell Douglas prior to their merger with Boeing. |
| 127 | 25 August 1997 | 14:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-8 | Advanced Composition Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorer program, designed to study the solar wind and interplanetary medium from a Lissajous orbit. |
| 128 | 6 November 1997 | 00:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-134 (GPS IIA-19) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 129 | 14 February 1998 | 14:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-1 | Success | |
| 130 | 24 April 1998 | 22:38 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-2 | Success | |
| 131 | 10 June 1998 | 00:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Thor III | Success | |
| 132 | 24 October 1998 | 12:08 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7326 | Deep Space 1 | Success | First launch of the New Millennium Program, designed to demonstrate new technologies through exploring 9969 Braille and 19P/Borrelly. First NASA spacecraft to use ion propulsion. |
| 133 | 11 December 1998 | 18:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425 | Mars Climate Orbiter | Success | Part of the Mars Exploration Program, designed to study the titular planet and characteristics such as its climate and atmosphere from orbit. Launch was a success, but a measurement mismatch between NASA's SI units and manufacturer Lockheed Martin's US customary resulted in the spacecraft burning up in the atmosphere during orbit insertion. |
| 134 | 7 February 1999 | 21:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7426 | Stardust | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, designed to return samples from the coma of comet 81P/Wild. First unmanned sample-return mission from NASA. |
| 135 | 24 June 1999 | 15:44 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10 | Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorer program, a space telescope designed to conduct ultraviolet astronomy, specifically with detecting deuterium in the early universe. |
| 136 | 25 July 1999 | 07:46 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-5 | Success | |
| 137 | 7 October 1999 | 12:51 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-145 (GPS IIR-3) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 138 | 11 May 2000 | 01:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-150 (GPS IIR-4) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 139 | 16 July 2000 | 09:17 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-151 (GPS IIR-5) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 140 | 10 November 2000 | 17:14 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-154 (GPS IIR-6) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 141 | 30 January 2001 | 07:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-156 (GPS IIR-7) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 142 | 7 April 2001 | 15:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | 2001 Mars Odyssey | Success | Part of the Mars Exploration Program, designed to study the titular planet from orbit. Set record for longest operational spacecraft around another celestial body. |
| 143 | 8 August 2001 | 16:13 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7326-9.5 | Genesis | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, designed to return samples of the solar wind. Launch and mission was a success, but drogue parachute failure led to return capsule crashing onto surface, with most samples getting contaminated. |
| 144 | 3 July 2002 | 06:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425 | CONTOUR | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, designed to explore comets such as 2P/Encke, 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, and 6P/d'Arrest. Launch was a success, but spacecraft contact was lost a month into mission. |
| 145 | 31 March 2003 | 22:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-168 (GPS IIR-9) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 146 | 10 June 2003 | 15:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Mars Exploration Rover-A Spirit | Success | First of two launches of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, two rovers designed to explore the titular planet's surface for extended periods of time. |
| 147 | 21 December 2003 | 08:05 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-175 (GPS IIR-10) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 148 | 20 November 2004 | 17:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory | Success | Part of the Explorer program, a space telescope designed to conduct gamma-ray astronomy and to study gamma-ray bursts. |
| 149 | 26 September 2005 | 03:37 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-183 (GPS IIR-M-1) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 150 | 21 June 2006 | 22:15 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Microsatellite Technology Experiment | Success | Two spacecraft and an experimental upper stage, also known as USA-187, USA-188, and USA-189 respectively. Collaboration between the Navy, Air Force, and DARPA. |
| 151 | 25 September 2006 | 18:50 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-190 (GPS IIR-M-2) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 152 | 17 November 2006 | 19:12 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-192 (GPS IIR-M-3) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. Final Delta II launch conduction by Boeing before transfer to United Launch Alliance. |
| 153 | 4 August 2007 | 09:26 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Phoenix | Success | Part of the Mars Exploration Program, designed to explore the titular planet and the soil, climate, and potential water in its polar regions. |
| 154 | 17 October 2007 | 12:23 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-196 (GPS IIR-M-4) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 155 | 20 December 2007 | 20:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-199 (GPS IIR-M-5) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 156 | 15 March 2008 | 06:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-201 (GPS IIR-M-6) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 157 | 24 March 2009 | 08:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-203 (GPS IIR-M-7) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 158 | 17 August 2009 | 10:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-206 (GPS IIR-M-8) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. Final Delta and Thor launch from SLC-17A. Most recent launch from SLC-17A. |
SLC-17B
[edit]3
6
9
12
15
'57
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Thor and early Delta
[edit]Thor and Thor-Ablestar launches operated by the United States Air Force. Thor-Delta launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 January 1957 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Maiden flight of the PGM-17 Thor and of the Delta family. Contaminated liquid oxygen caused a loss of trust, resulting with vehicle falling back onto pad and exploding. |
| 2 | 20 April 1957 | 04:33 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Erroneous console readout resulted in range safety protocols being mistakenly engaged 35 seconds after launch. |
| 3 | 20 September 1957 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | First successful Thor launch and from LC-17. |
| 4 | 11 October 1957 | 16:33 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Turbopump failed 152 seconds after launch. Flight considered a partial success. |
| 5 | 7 December 1957 | 22:11 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 6 | 28 February 1958 | 13:08 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Engines prematurely shut down 109 seconds after launch. |
| 7 | 19 April 1958 | 13:30 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Suspected fuel line obstruction led to loss of engine thrust, with vehicle falling back onto pad and exploding. |
| 8 | 13 June 1958 | 15:06 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 9 | 13 July 1958 | 06:36 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Success | BECO and warhead separation was never received. Flight considered success otherwise. |
| 10 | 26 July 1958 | 06:40 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18 | Suborbital test | Failure | Valve malfunction led to loss of thrust and vehicle breakup 55 seconds after launch. |
| 11 | 5 November 1958 | 08:53 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Failure | Flight control failure led to RSO protocols being activated 58 seconds after launch. |
| 12 | 26 November 1958 | 09:09 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Partial failure | Guidance system power failure led to warhead overshooting target by 22 miles. |
| 13 | 17 December 1958 | 04:00 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 14 | 30 January 1959 | 23:53 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 15 | 27 March 1959 | 04:02 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 16 | 23 April 1959 | 05:30 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 17 | 12 May 1959 | 17:35 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 18 | 30 June 1959 | 02:37 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 19 | 21 July 1959 | 07:33 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Failure | Pitch and roll programs failed to initiate, leading to RSO protocols 40 seconds after launch. |
| 20 | 6 August 1959 | 02:48 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 21 | 27 August 1959 | 12:30 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 22 | 22 September 1959 | 18:00 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 23 | 14 October 1959 | 04:15 | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 24 | 3 November 1959 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 25 | 19 November 1959 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 26 | 17 December 1959 | Unknown | PGM-17 Thor | Thor DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 27 | 13 April 1960 | 12:02 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 1B | Success | First successful launch of the Transit Satellite System. Maiden flight of the Thor-Ablestar and first orbital launch from LC-17B. |
| 28 | 22 June 1960 | 05:54 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 2A and GRAB-1 | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 29 | 18 August 1960 | 19:58 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Courier 1A | Failure | Experimental communications satellite. Launch suffered premature first stage cutoff, leading to RSO protocols 150 seconds after launch. |
| 30 | 4 October 1960 | 17:50 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Courier 1B | Success | Reflight of Courier 1 following 1A's failure. Became first active relay communications satellite. |
| 31 | 30 November 1960 | 19:50 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 3A and GRAB-2 | Failure | Part of the Transit Satellite System. Premature first stage cutoff lead to RSO protocols. Debris fell onto post-revolutionary Cuba, helping lead to polar launches being moved to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. |
| 32 | 22 February 1961 | 03:45 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 3B and Lofti 1 | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 33 | 29 June 1961 | 04:22 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 4A and GRAB-3 | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 34 | 15 November 1961 | 22:26 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 4B and TRAAC | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 35 | 24 January 1961 | 09:30 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | GRAB-4 and other payloads | Failure | Second stage suffered from limited thrust, leading to payloads failing to reach orbit. |
| 36 | 10 May 1961 | 12:06 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | ANNA 1A | Failure | Second stage failed to ignite, leading to payload failing to reach orbit. |
| 37 | 10 July 1962 | 08:35 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Telstar 1 | Success | First ever telecommunications satellite, broadcasting television signals across the Atlantic Ocean. First Delta launch from LC-17B, and first commercial launch from Cape Canaveral. |
| 38 | 2 October 1962 | 22:11 | Delta A | Thor DM-21 / Delta-A | Explorer 14 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 39 | 27 October 1962 | 23:15 | Delta A | Thor DM-21 / Delta-A | Explorer 15 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 40 | 14 February 1963 | 05:35 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Syncom 1 | Success | Part of the Syncom series of experimental communication satellites. Launch was a success, but payload shortly failed. |
| 41 | 7 May 1963 | 11:38 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Telstar 2 | Success | |
| 42 | 19 June 1963 | 09:50 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | TIROS-7 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 43 | 18 September 1963 | 09:39 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-1 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. |
| 44 | 27 November 1963 | 02:30 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Explorer 18 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 45 | 21 December 1963 | 09:30 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | TIROS-8 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 46 | 21 January 1964 | 21:14 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Relay 2 | Success | |
| 47 | 24 March 1964 | 12:15 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2G | ASSET-2 | Failure | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. Second stage fired intermittently, leading to RSO protocols. |
| 48 | 22 July 1964 | 15:39 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2G | ASSET-3 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. |
| 49 | 29 October 1964 | 03:35 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-4 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. |
| 50 | 9 December 1964 | 02:00 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-5 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. |
| 51 | 3 February 1965 | 16:33 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | OSO-2 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 52 | 23 February 1965 | 14:36 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2G | ASSET-6 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of the ASSET program, testing uncrewed atmospheric reentry vehicles. |
| 53 | 29 May 1965 | 12:00 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | Explorer 28 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 54 | 2 July 1965 | 04:04 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | TIROS-10 | Success | Part of the TIROS series of weather satellites. |
| 55 | 25 August 1965 | 15:17 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | OSO-C | Failure | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. Third stage ignited while still attached to second stage, leading to loss of vehicle. |
| 56 | 28 February 1966 | 13:58 | Delta E | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2 | ESSA-2 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 57 | 25 May 1966 | 14:00 | Delta C1 | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / FW-4D | Explorer 32 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's upper atmosphere. |
| 58 | 26 October 1966 | 23:05 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Intelsat 2-1 | Success | |
| 59 | 11 January 1967 | 10:55 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Intelsat 2-2 | Success | |
| 60 | 23 March 1967 | 01:30 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Intelsat 2-3 | Success | |
| 61 | 19 July 1967 | 14:19 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Explorer 35 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 62 | 7 September 1967 | 22:04 | Delta G | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E | Biosatellite 2 | Success | Second of three launches of the Biosatellite program, studying how various lifeforms operate in space. |
| 63 | 28 September 1967 | 00:45 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Intelsat 2-4 | Success | |
| 64 | 18 October 1967 | 16:04 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / Altair-2 | OSO-4 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 65 | 13 December 1967 | 14:08 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 8 | Success | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study interplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer C. Third of five heliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. |
| 66 | 8 November 1968 | 09:46 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 9 | Success | Part of the Pioneer program, aiming to study interplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer D. Fourth of five heliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. |
| 67 | 5 December 1968 | 18:55 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | HEOS 1 | Success | First launch for the ESRO from LC-17. |
| 68 | 22 January 1969 | 16:48 | Delta C1 | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / FW-4D | OSO-5 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 69 | 26 February 1969 | 07:47 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | ESSA-9 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
Later Delta I
[edit]All launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 23 September 1972 | 13:20 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1604 | Explorer 47 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. First Delta launch from LC-17 using a numerical designation. |
| 71 | 10 November 1972 | 01:14 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1914 | Anik-A1 | Success | |
| 72 | 20 April 1973 | 23:47 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1914 | Anik-A2 | Success | |
| 73 | 10 June 1973 | 14:13 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1913 | Explorer 49 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to conduct radio astronomy. First Delta launch going to another celestial body, as payload traveled to lunar orbit to minimize radio interference from Earth. |
| 74 | 26 October 1973 | 02:26 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1604 | Explorer 50 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. |
| 75 | 19 January 1974 | 01:38 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2313 | Skynet-2A | Failure | Loose piece of insulation damaged onboard electronics during launch, leading to loss of control. |
| 76 | 13 April 1974 | 21:33 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Westar-1 | Success | |
| 77 | 17 May 1974 | 10:31 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | SMS-1 | Success | Experimental weather satellite designed to demonstrate feasibility at geosynchronous orbit. |
| 78 | 10 October 1974 | 22:53 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Westar-2 | Success | |
| 79 | 23 November 1974 | 00:28 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2313 | Skynet-2B | Success | |
| 80 | 19 December 1974 | 02:39 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Symphonie-1 | Success | |
| 81 | 6 February 1975 | 22:02 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | SMS-2 | Success | Experimental weather satellite designed to demonstrate feasibility at geosynchronous orbit. |
| 82 | 7 May 1975 | 23:35 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Anik-A3 | Success | |
| 83 | 21 June 1975 | 11:43 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1910 | OSO-8 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory series of heliophysics satellites. |
| 84 | 16 October 1975 | 22:40 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GOES-1 | Success | Launched as GOES-A. First launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 85 | 20 November 1975 | 02:06 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Explorer 55 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study earth's upper atmosphere and ionosphere. |
| 86 | 17 January 1976 | 23:28 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | CTS 1 Hermes | Success | |
| 87 | 22 April 1976 | 20:46 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | NATO 3A | Success | |
| 88 | 20 April 1977 | 10:15 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | ESA-GEOS-1 | Partial failure | Third stage separated prematurely, leading to failure of spin stabilization. |
| 89 | 16 June 1977 | 10:51 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GOES-2 | Success | Launched as GOES-B. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 90 | 14 July 1977 | 14:56 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GMS-1 | Success | |
| 91 | 22 October 1977 | 13:53 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 | Success | Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study the interplanetary magnetic field. First two of three satellites of the International Sun-Earth Explorer program between NASA and ESA. |
| 92 | 15 December 1977 | 00:47 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | CS-1 | Success | |
| 93 | 7 April 1978 | 22:01 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | BSE-1 | Success | |
| 94 | 16 June 1978 | 10:49 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GOES-3 | Success | Launched as GOES-C. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 95 | 12 August 1978 | 15:12 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | International Cometary Explorer | Success | Launched as ICEE-3. Part of the Explorer program, aiming to study the interplanetary magnetic field before studying comets like 1P/Halley and 21P/Giacobini–Zinner. First ever satellite to visit a Lagrange point. Third of three satellites of the International Sun-Earth Explorer program between NASA and ESA. |
| 96 | 19 November 1978 | 00:46 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | NATO 3C | Success | |
| 97 | 30 January 1979 | 21:42 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | SCATHA (P78-2) | Success | |
| 98 | 26 August 1982 | 23:10 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Anik D1 | Success | |
| 99 | 28 October 1982 | 01:27 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3924 | Satcom 5 | Success | |
| 100 | 11 April 1983 | 22:39 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3924 | Satcom 6 | Success | |
| 101 | 28 June 1983 | 23:08 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Galaxy 1 | Success | |
| 102 | 8 September 1983 | 22:52 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Satcom 7 | Success | |
| 103 | 21 September 1984 | 22:18 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Galaxy-3 | Success | |
| 104 | 5 September 1986 | 15:08 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | USA-19 (Vector Sum Experiment) | Success | Experimental in-orbit ASAT satellite for the SDI. |
| 105 | 20 March 1987 | 22:22 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Palapa B2P | Success | |
| 106 | 8 February 1988 | 22:07 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | USA-30 (Thrusted Vector Experiment) | Success | Experimental in-orbit ASAT satellite for the SDI. |
| 107 | 24 March 1989 | 21:50 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920-8 | USA-36 (Delta Star) | Success | Experimental in-orbit ASAT satellite for the SDI. |
Delta 4000, II, and III
[edit]Delta 4000 launches operated by NASA. Delta II launches before August 1997 operated by McDonnell Douglas. Launches between then and 2007 operated by Boeing. Launches since 2007 operated by United Launch Alliance.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108 | 27 August 1989 | 22:59 | Delta 4000 | Thor-Delta 4925-8 | BSB-R1 | Success | |
| 109 | 11 December 1989 | 18:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-49 (GPS II-5) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. First Delta II launch from LC-17B. |
| 110 | 14 February 1990 | 16:15 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6920-8 | USA-51 (LACE) and USA-52 (RME) | Success | |
| 111 | 13 April 1990 | 22:28 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925-8 | Palapa B2R | Success | |
| 112 | 12 June 1990 | 05:52 | Delta 4000 | Thor-Delta 4925-8 | INSAT 1D | Success | Final flight of the Delta I. |
| 113 | 18 August 1990 | 00:42 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | Thor 1 | Success | |
| 114 | 30 October 1990 | 23:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | Inmarsat-2 F1 | Success | |
| 115 | 8 January 1991 | 00:53 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | NATO 4A | Success | |
| 116 | 8 March 1991 | 23:03 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | Inmarsat-2 F2 | Success | |
| 117 | 13 April 1991 | 00:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | ASC-2 (Spacenet F4) | Success | |
| 118 | 29 May 1991 | 22:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Aurora 2 | Success | |
| 119 | 23 February 1992 | 22:29 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-79 (GPS IIA-3) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 120 | 10 April 1992 | 03:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-80 (GPS IIA-4) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 121 | 14 May 1992 | 00:40 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Palapa B4 | Success | |
| 122 | 7 July 1992 | 09:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-83 (GPS IIA-5) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 123 | 31 August 1992 | 10:41 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Satcom C4 | Success | |
| 124 | 12 October 1992 | 09:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | DFS Kopernikus-3 | Success | |
| 125 | 18 December 1992 | 22:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-87 (GPS IIA-8) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 126 | 30 August 1993 | 12:38 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-94 (GPS IIA-13) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 127 | 26 October 1993 | 17:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-96 (GPS IIA-14) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 128 | 19 February 1994 | 23:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-8 | Galaxy 1R | Success | |
| 129 | 1 November 1994 | 09:31 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10 | Wind | Success | Part of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, a heliophysics spacecraft designed to study the solar wind from the L1 Lagrange point. First Delta II launch into a heliocentric orbit. |
| 130 | 5 August 1995 | 11:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Koreasat 1 | Partial failure | One solid rocket booster failed to separate, slowing vehicle and limiting orbital velocity. Spacecraft eventually entered correct orbit at the expense of a substantially reduced operational life. |
| 131 | 14 January 1996 | 11:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Koreasat-2 | Success | |
| 132 | 17 February 1996 | 20:43 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-8 | NEAR Shoemaker | Success | First mission in the Discovery Program, aimed at exploring 433 Eros. First spacecraft to enter orbit of and land on an asteroid. First Delta II launch to another celestial body. |
| 133 | 28 March 1996 | 00:21 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-117 (GPS IIA-16) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 134 | 24 May 1996 | 01:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Galaxy 9 | Success | |
| 135 | 4 December 1996 | 06:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Mars Pathfinder | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, aimed at exploring Mars and developing a spacecraft under administrator Daniel Goldin's "faster, better, cheaper" approach. First Mars landing mission since Viking 2 in 1975. Flew with Sojourner, the first operational Mars rover. |
| 136 | 10 January 1998 | 00:32 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Skynet 4D | Success | |
| 137 | 27 August 1998 | 01:17 | Delta III | Thor-Delta 8930 | Galaxy 10 | Failure | Maiden flight of the Delta III. Control problems and depletion of hydraulic fluid being used led to range safety protocols being activated during ascent. |
| 138 | 22 November 1998 | 23:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | BONUM-1 | Success | |
| 139 | 3 January 1999 | 20:21 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425 | Mars Polar Lander | Success | Part of the Mars Exploration Program, designed to explore the titular planet and the soil and climate of its polar regions. Launch was a success, but lander crashed on the surface during entry, descent and landing. |
| 140 | 5 May 1999 | 01:00 | Delta III | Thor-Delta 8930 | Orion 3 | Failure | Delta III second stage suffered engine failure, stranding payload in low Earth orbit. |
| 141 | 10 June 1999 | 13:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-3 | Success | |
| 142 | 10 July 1999 | 08:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-4 | Success | |
| 143 | 17 August 1999 | 04:37 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-6 | Success | |
| 144 | 8 February 2000 | 21:24 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-7 | Success | |
| 145 | 23 August 2000 | 11:05 | Delta III | Thor-Delta 8930 | DM-F3 | Partial failure | Demonstration satellite. Payload was placed in lower than expected orbit. Final flight of the Delta III. |
| 146 | 18 May 2001 | 17:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | NROL-17 | Success | NRO launch. Technology demonstration satellite, also known as GeoLITE or USA-158. Was used as a test bed for laser and UHF communication. |
| 147 | 30 June 2001 | 19:46 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425-10 | Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe | Success | Part of the Explorer program, a space telescope designed to create a survey of the cosmic microwave background radiation. First space telescope to be placed into a heliocentric orbit. |
| 148 | 29 January 2003 | 18:06 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-166 (GPS IIR-8) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 149 | 8 July 2003 | 03:18 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | Mars Exploration Rover-B Opportunity | Success | Second of two launches of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, two rovers designed to explore the titular planet's surface for extended periods of time. Maiden flight of the Delta II Heavy. |
| 150 | 25 August 2003 | 05:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920H-9.5 | Spitzer Space Telescope | Success | Part of the Great Observatories program, a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. |
| 151 | 20 March 2004 | 17:53 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-177 (GPS IIR-11) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 152 | 23 June 2004 | 22:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-178 (GPS IIR-12) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 153 | 3 August 2004 | 06:15 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | MESSENGER | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, aimed at exploring Mercury such as mapping areas not covered by Mariner 10. First spacecraft to enter orbit of Mercury. |
| 154 | 6 November 2004 | 05:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-180 (GPS IIR-13) | Success | Part of the Global Positioning System. |
| 155 | 12 January 2005 | 18:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Deep Impact | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, aimed at studying the interior of comets via impacting one. First impactor of a celestial body besides the Moon, done with 9P/Tempel. |
| 156 | 26 October 2006 | 00:52 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10L | STEREO | Success | Part of the Solar Terrestrial Probes program, two spacecraft designed to observed the Sun and phenomena such as coronal mass ejections. |
| 157 | 17 February 2007 | 23:01 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10C | THEMIS | Success | Part of the Explorer program, five spacecraft designed to study Earth's magnetic field. |
| 158 | 27 September 2007 | 11:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | Dawn | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, designed to explore large asteroid belt objects like Ceres and Vesta. First spacecraft to enter orbit of two separate celestial objects, and first spacecraft to visit and enter orbit of a dwarf planet. |
| 159 | 11 June 2008 | 16:05 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920H-10C | Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope | Success | Space telescope designed to conduct gamma-ray astronomy. Collaboration between NASA, the DoE, and several international agencies. |
| 160 | 7 March 2009 | 03:49 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10L | Kepler Space Telescope | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, a space telescope designed to survey a small area of the sky to detect exoplanets through the transit method. Final Delta II flight to go into heliocentric orbit. |
| 161 | 25 September 2009 | 12:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | USA-208 (STSS Demo) and USA-209 (GMD Block 2006) | Success | Final military launch from a Delta II. |
| 162 | 10 September 2011 | 13:08 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920H-10C | GRAIL | Success | Part of the Discovery Program, two spacecraft designed to create a gravity map and study the composition of the Moon. Final flight of the Delta II Heavy and last Delta II launch beyond low Earth orbit. Final launch of a Thor-based rocket from Cape Canaveral. Most recent launch from SLC-17. |
Gallery
[edit]-
SLC-17 in the 1960s, holding a Thor-Delta carrying TIROS satellites -
SLC-17 blockhouse with the Mobile Service Tower in the distance. -
The two launch towers of SLC-17 getting demolished in 2018
.jpg?lang=en)
.jpg?lang=en)
References
[edit]- ^ McDowell, Jonathan (22 February 1998). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
- ^ Table 3
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Towers at disused Florida launch pad to be toppled Thursday". spaceflightnow.com. Spaceflight Now. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Industry Day". Space and Missile Systems Center. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- Lynda Warnock; Dennis Armstrong (20 May 2004). "MESSENGER Launch Pad Activities: About Launch Complex 17". NASA. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
[edit]
Thor and Delta rockets | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockets |
| .jpg?lang=en) | ||||||||||||
| Launch sites |
| |||||||||||||
| Components |
| |||||||||||||
| Manufacturers |
| |||||||||||||
| Launches | ||||||||||||||