THOR-ABLE III FACT SHEET

By Cliff Lethbridge

Thor-Able III Launch, Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force

Classification: Space Launch Vehicle

Length: 90 feet

Diameter: 8 feet

Date of First Cape Canaveral Launch: August 7, 1959

Date of Final Cape Canaveral Launch: August 7, 1959

Number of Cape Canaveral Launches: 1

Thor-Able III was the NASA designation for a Thor-Able variant configured to support the launch of the Explorer-VI satellite on August 7, 1959. The 143-pound satellite was the first spacecraft to transmit pictures of Earth from space. Thor-Able III employed a Thor missile as first stage, an Aerojet liquid-fueled second stage, an Able solid-fueled third stage and an Atlantic solid-fueled fourth stage.