Thor DM-18A

PGM-17A Thor DM-18A Able

Mission Profile

Thor DM-18A (also known as Thor Able or PGM-17A) was an early two-stage American launch vehicle created by mating the Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile core with an Able upper stage, providing orbital delivery capability for scientific and military payloads. Standing 19.8 meters tall and weighing approximately 49,900 kg, it generated 758 kN of thrust at liftoff. Its first flight in November 1958 marked an important step in the evolution of the Thor IRBM into a serious space launch vehicle, contributing to the development of the long-running Delta rocket family. Several Thor Able flights supported early NASA Pioneer lunar probe missions, including the first American attempt to reach the Moon.