 SLC-17 in February 2007. On Pad 17B is aDelta II carryingTHEMIS as its payload. In the background is theCape Canaveral Space Force Museum. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Space Launch Complex 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 28°26′48″N80°33′58″W / 28.44667°N 80.56611°W /28.44667; -80.56611 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force NASA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 321 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad | Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 28°-57° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Space Launch Complex 17[1][2] (SLC-17), previously designatedLaunch Complex 17 (LC-17), was a launch site atCape Canaveral Space Force Station,Florida used forThor andDelta launch vehicles launches between 1958 and 2011.
Originally built in 1956, SLC-17 features twoexpendable launch vehicle (ELV) launch pads,SLC-17A andSLC-17B. The pads were operated by the45th Space Wing and have supported more than 300Department of Defense,NASA and commercial missile and rocket launches.
SLC-17 was built in 1956 by theUnited States Air Force for use with thePGM-17 Thor missile, the first operationalballistic missile in the arsenal of theUnited States. It was initially designed for testing suborbital launches of the Thor, in accordance to theIRBM's planned stationing in theUnited Kingdom as part ofProject 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-rangeICBMs, 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 theThor-Able in 1958, these Thor-based rockets came to be called theDelta 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 toNASA in 1965, but the site was returned to the military in 1988 to supportMcDonnell Douglas'sDelta 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, theDelta 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 theExplorer andPioneer space probes, all of theOrbiting Solar Observatories, theSolar Maximum Mission, biological satellites (Biosatellite program), theInternational Cometary Explorer (ICE), theTIROS andGOES meteorology satellites, and theMars Exploration RoversSpirit andOpportunity.
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'sGRAIL spacecraft. All remaining Delta II launches were made fromSLC-2W atVandenberg Air Force Base inCalifornia 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 forMoon Express to build and test its lunar lander.[3]
As of August 2024, theUnited States Space Force (having taken over the Air Force's jurisdiction) plans to fully demolish SLC-17 and the neighboringLC-18 in favor of extending Lighthouse Road and reconnecting its two separate sections back together.[4]
Thor, Thor-Able, and Thor-Ablestar launches operated by theUnited States Air Force. Thor-Delta launches operated byNASA.
| 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 torange 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 thePioneer program, aiming to study theMoon 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 thePioneer program, aiming to study theMoon from orbit. First ever payload operated byNASA. 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 thePioneer program, aiming to study theMoon 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 theExplorer program, aiming to study trapped radiation from space. First successful orbital launch from LC-17A. Capturedfirst images of Earth from orbit. |
| 19 | 17 September 1959 | 14:34 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | Transit 1A | Failure | First launch of theTransit Satellite System.. Third stage malfunction, failing to place payload in orbit. |
| 20 | 11 March 1960 | 13:00 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-IV | Pioneer 5 | Success | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space. Initially planned to perform a flyby ofVenus, but development issues forced a delay and missing of transfer window. |
| 21 | 1 April 1960 | 11:40 | Thor-Able | Thor DM-18 / Able-II | TIROS-1 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. First ever weather satellite, and final launch of the Thor-Able. |
| 22 | 13 May 1960 | 09:16 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Echo 1 | Failure | Part ofProject Echo, aimed at experimenting with passive communication. Maiden flight of the Thor-Delta. Upper stage altitude control malfunction resulted in loss of mission. |
| 23 | 12 August 1960 | 09:39 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Echo 1A | Success | Part ofProject Echo, aimed at experimenting with passive communication. Reflight of Echo 1. Hardware built as part of the mission include theHolmdel Horn Antenna, which later was used to discover thecosmic microwave background. |
| 24 | 23 November 1960 | 11:13 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-2 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 25 | 23 March 1961 | 15:17 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Explorer 10 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere and plasma. |
| 26 | 12 July 1961 | 10:25 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-3 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 27 | 16 August 1961 | 03:21 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Explorer 12 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere and thesolar wind. |
| 28 | 15 January 1962 | 11:07 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2D | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 29 | 8 February 1962 | 12:43 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-4 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 30 | 7 March 1962 | 16:06 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | OSO-1 | Success | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 31 | 26 April 1962 | 18:00 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | Ariel 1 | Success | Satellite aimed at studyingEarth's ionosphere. FirstBritish satellite, making them the third nation to have a spacecraft in orbit, after theSoviet Union and theUnited States. |
| 32 | 19 June 1962 | 12:19 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-5 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 33 | 19 July 1962 | 09:30 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2D | Suborbital test | Success | |
| 34 | 18 September 1962 | 08:53 | Thor-Delta | Thor DM-19 / Delta | TIROS-6 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. Final flight of the baseline Thor-Delta. |
| 35 | 31 October 1962 | 08:08 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | ANNA 1B | Success | Only flight of the Thor-Ablestar from LC-17A. |
| 36 | 13 December 1962 | 23:30 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Relay 1 | Success | |
| 37 | 3 April 1963 | 02:00 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Explorer 17 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's upper atmosphere. |
| 38 | 26 July 1963 | 14:33 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Syncom 2 | Success | Part of theSyncom series of experimental communication satellites. First satellite to be placed ingeosynchronous orbit. |
| 39 | 19 March 1964 | 11:13 | Delta B | Thor DM-21 / Delta-B | Explorer S-66 | Failure | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyEarth's ionosphere. Underperforming of third stage caused failure to reach orbit. |
| 40 | 19 August 1964 | 12:15 | Delta D | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Syncom 3 | Success | Part of theSyncom series of experimental communication satellites. First satellite to be placed ingeostationary orbit. |
| 41 | 4 October 1964 | 03:45 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Explorer 21 | Partial failure | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to study cosmic rays and other electromagnetic activity. Payload deployed in lower than expected orbit. |
| 42 | 21 December 1964 | 09:00 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Explorer 26 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere. |
| 43 | 22 January 1965 | 07:55 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | TIROS-9 | Success | Part of theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 44 | 6 April 1965 | 23:45 | Delta D | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Intelsat I | Success | Commercialcommunications satellite, also known as "Early Bird". Performed first transoceanictelevision broadcast. First commercial launch from LC-17. |
| 45 | 6 November 1965 | 18:43 | Delta E | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E /Altair-2 | Explorer 29 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studygeodesy from orbit. |
| 46 | 16 December 1965 | 07:31 | Delta E | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E /Altair-2 | Pioneer 6 | Success | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer A. First of fiveheliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. First Delta launch going beyondgeostationary orbit. |
| 47 | 3 February 1966 | 07:41 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | ESSA-1 | Success | Part of theTOS series of weather satellites for theESSA. |
| 48 | 1 July 1966 | 16:04 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Explorer 33 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere. |
| 49 | 17 August 1966 | 15:20 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 7 | Success | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer B. Second of fiveheliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. |
| 50 | 14 December 1966 | 19:26 | Delta G | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E | Biosatellite 1 | Success | First of three launches of theBiosatellite program, studying how various lifeforms operate in space. |
| 51 | 8 March 1967 | 16:19 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | OSO-3 | Success | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 52 | 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. |
| 53 | 19 December 1968 | 00:32 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-2 | Success | |
| 54 | 6 February 1969 | 00:39 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-3 | Success | |
| 55 | 22 May 1969 | 02:00 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-4 | Success | |
| 56 | 29 June 1969 | 13:26 | Delta N | Thor LTT / Delta-E | Biosatellite 3 | Success | Third of three launches of theBiosatellite program, studying how various lifeforms operate in space. |
| 57 | 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. |
| 58 | 27 August 1969 | 21:59 | Delta L | Thor LTT / Delta-E / FW-1D | Pioneer E | Failure | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Fifth of fiveheliocentric 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. |
| 59 | 22 November 1969 | 00:37 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Skynet 1A | Success | |
| 60 | 15 January 1970 | 00:16 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-6 | Success | |
| 61 | 23 March 1970 | 23:46 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | NATO 1 | Success | |
| 62 | 23 April 1970 | 00:46 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-7 | Success | |
| 63 | 23 July 1970 | 23:23 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Intelsat 3-8 | Success | |
| 64 | 19 August 1970 | 12:11 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Skynet 1B | Success | |
| 65 | 3 February 1971 | 01:41 | Delta M | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | NATO 2 | Success | |
| 66 | 13 March 1971 | 16:15 | Delta M6 | Thor LTT / Delta-E /Star 37D | Explorer 43 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere. |
| 67 | 29 September 1971 | 09:50 | Delta N | Thor LTT / Delta-E | OSO-7 | Success | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics 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. |
All launches operated byNASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 27 August 1975 | 01:42 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Symphonie-2 | Success | First Delta launch from LC-17A using a numerical designation. |
| 69 | 13 December 1975 | 01:56 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-1 | Success | |
| 70 | 26 March 1976 | 22:42 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-2 | Success | |
| 71 | 10 June 1976 | 00:09 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Marisat-2 | Success | |
| 72 | 8 July 1976 | 23:31 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Palapa-A1 | Success | |
| 73 | 14 October 1976 | 22:44 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Marisat-3 | Success | |
| 74 | 10 March 1977 | 23:16 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | NATO 3B | Success | |
| 75 | 13 September 1977 | 23:21 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | OTS-1 | Failure | Rupture in casing of asolid rocket booster lead to loss of launch vehicle 52 seconds after launch. |
| 76 | 23 November 1977 | 01:35 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Meteosat-1 | Success | |
| 77 | 26 January 1978 | 17:36 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | International Ultraviolet Explorer | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aspace telescope designed to conductultraviolet astronomy. Collaboration betweenNASA,ESA, andSERC. |
| 78 | 11 May 1978 | 22:59 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | OTS-2 | Success | |
| 79 | 14 July 1978 | 10:43 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | ESA-GEOS-2 | Success | |
| 80 | 16 December 1978 | 00:21 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Anik-B1 | Success | |
| 81 | 10 August 1979 | 00:20 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | Westar-3 | Success | |
| 82 | 7 December 1979 | 01:35 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | Satcom-3 | Success | |
| 83 | 14 February 1980 | 15:57 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Solar Maximum Mission | Success | Heliophysics satellite designed to investigatesolar phenomena such assolar flares. Was later visited bySpace ShuttleChallenger duringSTS-41-C in order to have its altitude control system repaired. |
| 84 | 9 September 1980 | 22:27 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-4 | Success | Launched as GOES-D. Part of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 85 | 15 November 1980 | 22:49 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | SBS-1 | Success | |
| 86 | 22 May 1981 | 22:29 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-5 | Success | Launched as GOES-E. Part of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 87 | 24 September 1981 | 23:09 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | SBS-2 | Success | |
| 88 | 20 November 1981 | 01:37 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Satcom 3R | Success | |
| 89 | 16 January 1982 | 01:54 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Satcom 4 | Success | |
| 90 | 26 February 1982 | 00:04 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Westar 4 | Success | |
| 91 | 10 April 1982 | 06:47 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Insat 1A | Success | |
| 92 | 9 June 1982 | 00:24 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | Westar 5 | Success | |
| 93 | 28 April 1983 | 22:26 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-6 | Success | Launched as GOES-F. Part of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 94 | 28 July 1983 | 22:49 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Telstar-3A | Success | |
| 95 | 22 September 1983 | 22:16 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Galaxy 2 | Success | |
| 96 | 16 August 1984 | 14:30 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3924 | AMPTE-CCE | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's magnetosphere. |
| 97 | 14 November 1984 | 00:34 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | NATO 3D | Success | |
| 98 | 3 May 1986 | 22:18 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-G | Failure | Part of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. First stage electric failure lead to loss of control and destruction of rocket 90 seconds after launch. |
| 99 | 26 February 1987 | 23:05 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | GOES-7 | Success | Launched as GOES-H. Part of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. Final Delta I launch from LC-17A. |
Launches before August 1997 operated byMcDonnell Douglas. Launches between then and 2007 operated byBoeing. Launches since 2007 operated byUnited Launch Alliance.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 14 February 1989 | 18:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-35 (GPS II-1) | Success | Part of theGlobal 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. |
| 101 | 10 June 1989 | 22:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-38 (GPS II-2) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 102 | 18 August 1989 | 05:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-42 (GPS II-3) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 103 | 21 October 1989 | 09:31 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-47 (GPS II-4) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 104 | 24 January 1990 | 22:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-50 (GPS II-6) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 105 | 26 March 1990 | 02:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-54 (GPS II-7) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 106 | 1 June 1990 | 21:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6920-10 | ROSAT | Success | Space telescope designed to conductx-ray astronomy. Collaboration betweenNASA andDLR. |
| 107 | 2 August 1990 | 05:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-63 (GPS II-8) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 108 | 1 October 1990 | 21:56 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | USA-64 (GPS II-9) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 109 | 26 November 1990 | 21:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-66 (GPS IIA-1) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. First Delta II 7000 launch. |
| 110 | 4 July 1991 | 02:32 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-71 (GPS IIA-2) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 111 | 7 June 1992 | 16:40 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6920-10 | Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aspace telescope designed at conductingultraviolet astronomy. |
| 112 | 24 July 1992 | 14:26 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 6925 | Geotail | Success | Satellite designed to studyEarth's magnetosphere, a collaboration betweenNASA andISAS. Final launch of the Delta II 6000. |
| 113 | 9 September 1992 | 08:57 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-84 (GPS IIA-6) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 114 | 22 November 1992 | 23:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-85 (GPS IIA-7) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 115 | 3 February 1993 | 02:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-88 (GPS IIA-9) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 116 | 30 March 1993 | 03:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-90 (GPS IIA-10) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 117 | 13 May 1993 | 00:07 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-91 (GPS IIA-11) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 118 | 26 June 1993 | 13:27 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-92 (GPS IIA-12) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 119 | 8 December 1993 | 00:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | NATO 4B | Success | |
| 120 | 10 March 1994 | 03:40 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-100 (GPS IIA-15) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 121 | 30 December 1995 | 13:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer | Success | Part of theExplorer program, designed to conductx-ray astronomy through tracking timing from sources. |
| 122 | 16 July 1996 | 00:50 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-126 (GPS IIA-17) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 123 | 12 September 1996 | 08:49 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-128 (GPS IIA-18) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 124 | 7 November 1996 | 17:00 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Mars Global Surveyor | Success | First launch of theMars Exploration Program, designed to study thetitular planet and characteristics likegeology andclimate from orbit. First Delta II launch to another planet, and first successful American mission to Mars sinceViking 2 in 1975. |
| 125 | 17 January 1997 | 16:28 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | GPS IIR-1 | Failure | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. Burnthrough in one of thesolid rocket boosters activatedrange safety protocols 13 seconds after launch, damaging and scattering debris across the pad, nearby cars, and the adjacentAir Force Space and Missile Museum. |
| 126 | 20 May 1997 | 22:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Thor II | Success | |
| 127 | 23 July 1997 | 03:43 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-132 (GPS IIR-2) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. Last Delta II flight operated byMcDonnell Douglas prior to their merger withBoeing. |
| 128 | 25 August 1997 | 14:39 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-8 | Advanced Composition Explorer | Success | Part of theExplorer program, designed to study thesolar wind andinterplanetary medium from aLissajous orbit. |
| 129 | 6 November 1997 | 00:30 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-134 (GPS IIA-19) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 130 | 14 February 1998 | 14:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-1 | Success | |
| 131 | 24 April 1998 | 22:38 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-2 | Success | |
| 132 | 10 June 1998 | 00:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Thor III | Success | |
| 133 | 24 October 1998 | 12:08 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7326 | Deep Space 1 | Success | First launch of theNew Millennium Program, designed to demonstrate new technologies through exploring9969 Braille and19P/Borrelly. First NASA spacecraft to useion propulsion. |
| 134 | 11 December 1998 | 18:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425 | Mars Climate Orbiter | Success | Part of theMars Exploration Program, designed to study thetitular planet and characteristics such as itsclimate andatmosphere from orbit. Launch was a success, but a measurement mismatch between NASA'sSI units and manufacturerLockheed Martin'sUS customary resulted in the spacecraft burning up in the atmosphere during orbit insertion. |
| 135 | 7 February 1999 | 21:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7426 | Stardust | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, designed toreturn samples from thecoma of comet81P/Wild. First unmanned sample-return mission from NASA. |
| 136 | 24 June 1999 | 15:44 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10 | Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aspace telescope designed to conductultraviolet astronomy, specifically with detectingdeuterium in theearly universe. |
| 137 | 25 July 1999 | 07:46 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar-5 | Success | |
| 138 | 7 October 1999 | 12:51 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-145 (GPS IIR-3) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 139 | 11 May 2000 | 01:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-150 (GPS IIR-4) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 140 | 16 July 2000 | 09:17 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-151 (GPS IIR-5) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 141 | 10 November 2000 | 17:14 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-154 (GPS IIR-6) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 142 | 30 January 2001 | 07:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-156 (GPS IIR-7) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 143 | 7 April 2001 | 15:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | 2001 Mars Odyssey | Success | Part of theMars Exploration Program, designed to study thetitular planet from orbit. Set record for longest operational spacecraft around another celestial body. |
| 144 | 8 August 2001 | 16:13 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7326-9.5 | Genesis | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, designed toreturn samples of thesolar wind. Launch and mission was a success, butdrogue parachute failure led to return capsule crashing onto surface, with most samples getting contaminated. |
| 145 | 3 July 2002 | 06:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425 | CONTOUR | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, designed to explorecomets such as2P/Encke,73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, and6P/d'Arrest. Launch was a success, but spacecraft contact was lost a month into mission. |
| 146 | 31 March 2003 | 22:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-168 (GPS IIR-9) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 147 | 10 June 2003 | 15:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Mars Exploration Rover-ASpirit | Success | First of two launches of theMars Exploration Rover mission, tworovers designed to explore thetitular planet's surface for extended periods of time. |
| 148 | 21 December 2003 | 08:05 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-175 (GPS IIR-10) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 149 | 20 November 2004 | 17:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aspace telescope designed to conductgamma-ray astronomy and to studygamma-ray bursts. |
| 150 | 26 September 2005 | 03:37 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-183 (GPS IIR-M-1) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 151 | 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 theNavy,Air Force, andDARPA. |
| 152 | 25 September 2006 | 18:50 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-190 (GPS IIR-M-2) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 153 | 17 November 2006 | 19:12 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-192 (GPS IIR-M-3) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. Final Delta II launch conduction byBoeing before transfer toUnited Launch Alliance. |
| 154 | 4 August 2007 | 09:26 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | Phoenix | Success | Part of theMars Exploration Program, designed to explore thetitular planet and the soil, climate, andpotential water in its polar regions. |
| 155 | 17 October 2007 | 12:23 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-196 (GPS IIR-M-4) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 156 | 20 December 2007 | 20:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-199 (GPS IIR-M-5) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 157 | 15 March 2008 | 06:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-201 (GPS IIR-M-6) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 158 | 24 March 2009 | 08:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-203 (GPS IIR-M-7) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 160 | 17 August 2009 | 10:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-206 (GPS IIR-M-8) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. Final Delta and Thor launch from SLC-17A. Most recent launch from SLC-17A. |
Thor and Thor-Ablestar launches operated by theUnited States Air Force. Thor-Delta launches operated byNASA.
| 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 theDelta family. Contaminatedliquid 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 inrange 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 theTransit 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 andGRAB-1 | Success | Part of theTransit 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 andGRAB-2 | Failure | Part of theTransit Satellite System. Premature first stage cutoff lead to RSO protocols. Debris fell ontopost-revolutionaryCuba, helping lead to polar launches being moved toVandenberg Air Force Base inCalifornia. |
| 32 | 22 February 1961 | 03:45 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 3B and Lofti 1 | Success | Part of theTransit Satellite System. |
| 33 | 29 June 1961 | 04:22 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 4A andGRAB-3 | Success | Part of theTransit Satellite System. |
| 34 | 15 November 1961 | 22:26 | Thor-Ablestar | Thor DM-21 / Ablestar | Transit 4B andTRAAC | Success | Part of theTransit 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 evertelecommunications satellite, broadcasting television signals across theAtlantic 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 theExplorer 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 theExplorer 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 theSyncom 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 theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 43 | 18 September 1963 | 09:39 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-1 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry vehicles. |
| 44 | 27 November 1963 | 02:30 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Explorer 18 | Success | Part of theExplorer 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 theTIROS series ofweather 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 theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry 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 theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry vehicles. |
| 49 | 29 October 1964 | 03:35 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-4 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry vehicles. |
| 50 | 9 December 1964 | 02:00 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2F | ASSET-5 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry vehicles. |
| 51 | 3 February 1965 | 16:33 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | OSO-2 | Success | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 52 | 23 February 1965 | 14:36 | Thor DSV-2 | Thor DSV-2G | ASSET-6 | Success | Suborbital flight. Part of theASSET program, testing uncrewed atmosphericreentry vehicles. |
| 53 | 29 May 1965 | 12:00 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | Explorer 28 | Success | Part of theExplorer 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 theTIROS series ofweather satellites. |
| 55 | 25 August 1965 | 15:17 | Delta C | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D /Altair-2 | OSO-C | Failure | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics 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 theTOS series of weather satellites for theESSA. |
| 57 | 25 May 1966 | 14:00 | Delta C1 | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / FW-4D | Explorer 32 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth'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 theExplorer 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 theBiosatellite 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 theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 65 | 13 December 1967 | 14:08 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 8 | Success | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer C. Third of fiveheliocentric orbit-centered Pioneer satellites. |
| 66 | 8 November 1968 | 09:46 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | Pioneer 9 | Success | Part of thePioneer program, aiming to studyinterplanetary space from great distance to Earth. Launched as Pioneer D. Fourth of fiveheliocentric 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 theESRO from LC-17. |
| 68 | 22 January 1969 | 16:48 | Delta C1 | Thor DSV-2A / Delta-D / FW-4D | OSO-5 | Success | Part of theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 69 | 26 February 1969 | 07:47 | Delta E1 | Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4D | ESSA-9 | Success | Part of theTOS series of weather satellites for theESSA. |
All launches operated byNASA.
| 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 theExplorer 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 theExplorer program, aiming to conductradio astronomy. First Delta launch going to another celestial body, as payload traveled tolunar orbit to minimizeradio interference from Earth. |
| 74 | 26 October 1973 | 02:26 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1604 | Explorer 50 | Success | Part of theExplorer 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 | Experimentalweather satellite designed to demonstrate feasibility atgeosynchronous 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 | Experimentalweather satellite designed to demonstrate feasibility atgeosynchronous 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 theOrbiting Solar Observatory series ofheliophysics satellites. |
| 84 | 16 October 1975 | 22:40 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GOES-1 | Success | Launched as GOES-A. First launch of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites system of satellites. |
| 85 | 20 November 1975 | 02:06 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Explorer 55 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to studyearth's upper atmosphere andionosphere. |
| 86 | 17 January 1976 | 23:28 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | CTS 1Hermes | 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 ofspin stabilization. |
| 89 | 16 June 1977 | 10:51 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2914 | GOES-2 | Success | Launched as GOES-B. Part of theGeostationary 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 andISEE-2 | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aiming to study theinterplanetary magnetic field. First two of three satellites of theInternational Sun-Earth Explorer program betweenNASA andESA. |
| 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 theGeostationary 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 theExplorer program, aiming to study theinterplanetary magnetic field before studyingcomets like1P/Halley and21P/Giacobini–Zinner. First ever satellite to visit aLagrange point. Third of three satellites of theInternational Sun-Earth Explorer program betweenNASA andESA. |
| 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-orbitASAT satellite for theSDI. |
| 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-orbitASAT satellite for theSDI. |
| 107 | 24 March 1989 | 21:50 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920-8 | USA-36 (Delta Star) | Success | Experimental in-orbitASAT satellite for theSDI. |
Delta 4000 launches operated byNASA. Delta II launches before August 1997 operated byMcDonnell Douglas. Launches between then and 2007 operated byBoeing. Launches since 2007 operated byUnited 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 theGlobal 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 theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 120 | 10 April 1992 | 03:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-80 (GPS IIA-4) | Success | Part of theGlobal 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 theGlobal 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 theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 126 | 30 August 1993 | 12:38 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-94 (GPS IIA-13) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 127 | 26 October 1993 | 17:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925 | USA-96 (GPS IIA-14) | Success | Part of theGlobal 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 theInternational Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, aheliophysics spacecraft designed to study thesolar wind from theL1 Lagrange point. First Delta II launch into aheliocentric orbit. |
| 130 | 5 August 1995 | 11:10 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Koreasat 1 | Partial failure | Onesolid 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 theDiscovery Program, aimed at exploring433 Eros. First spacecraft to enter orbit of and land on anasteroid. 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 theGlobal 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 theDiscovery Program, aimed at exploringMars and developing a spacecraft underadministratorDaniel Goldin's"faster, better, cheaper" approach. First Mars landing mission sinceViking 2 in 1975. Flew withSojourner, the first operationalMars 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 torange 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 theMars Exploration Program, designed to explore thetitular planet and the soil and climate of its polar regions. Launch was a success, but lander crashed on the surface duringentry, 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 inlow 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 forlaser andUHF communication. |
| 147 | 30 June 2001 | 19:46 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7425-10 | Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe | Success | Part of theExplorer program, aspace telescope designed to create a survey of thecosmic microwave background radiation. First space telescope to be placed into aheliocentric orbit. |
| 148 | 29 January 2003 | 18:06 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-166 (GPS IIR-8) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 149 | 8 July 2003 | 03:18 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | Mars Exploration Rover-BOpportunity | Success | Second of two launches of theMars Exploration Rover mission, tworovers designed to explore thetitular 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 theGreat Observatories program, aspace telescope designed to conductinfrared astronomy. |
| 151 | 20 March 2004 | 17:53 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-177 (GPS IIR-11) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 152 | 23 June 2004 | 22:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | USA-178 (GPS IIR-12) | Success | Part of theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 153 | 3 August 2004 | 06:15 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | MESSENGER | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, aimed at exploringMercury such as mapping areas not covered byMariner 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 theGlobal Positioning System. |
| 155 | 12 January 2005 | 18:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-9.5 | Deep Impact | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, aimed at studying the interior ofcomets viaimpacting one. First impactor of a celestial body besides theMoon, done with9P/Tempel. |
| 156 | 26 October 2006 | 00:52 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10L | STEREO | Success | Part of theSolar Terrestrial Probes program, two spacecraft designed to observed theSun and phenomena such ascoronal mass ejections. |
| 157 | 17 February 2007 | 23:01 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10C | THEMIS | Success | Part of theExplorer program, five spacecraft designed to studyEarth's magnetic field. |
| 158 | 27 September 2007 | 11:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925H-9.5 | Dawn | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, designed to explore largeasteroid belt objects likeCeres andVesta. First spacecraft to enter orbit of two separate celestial objects, and first spacecraft to visit and enter orbit of adwarf planet. |
| 159 | 11 June 2008 | 16:05 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920H-10C | Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope | Success | Space telescope designed to conductgamma-ray astronomy. Collaboration betweenNASA, theDoE, and several international agencies. |
| 160 | 7 March 2009 | 03:49 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10L | Kepler Space Telescope | Success | Part of theDiscovery Program, aspace telescope designed to survey a small area of the sky to detectexoplanets through thetransit method. Final Delta II flight to go intoheliocentric 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 theDiscovery Program, two spacecraft designed to create agravity map and study thecomposition of theMoon. Final flight of the Delta II Heavy and last Delta II launch beyondlow Earth orbit. Final launch of aThor-based rocket fromCape Canaveral. Most recent launch from SLC-17. |
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Thor and Delta rockets | ||||||||||||||
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