Encyclopedia entry

Thor DSV-2U

Launch vehicle · USA

Part of Thor

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American orbital launch vehicle. Single stage vehicle.

LEO Payload: 500 kg (1,100 lb) to a 300 km orbit at 28.00 degrees.

More at: Thor DSV-2U.

Family: orbital launch vehicle
Country: USA
Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D
Projects: DMSP
Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC10W
Stages: Star 37XE, Thor DM-19
Agency: Douglas

Chronology

5 events

1976 September 11

08:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2U.

AMS 1 - . Payload: DMSP 5D S-1 / OPS 5721. Mass: 450 kg (990 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D. USAF Sat Cat: 9415 . COSPAR: 1976-091A. Apogee: 833 km (517 mi). Perigee: 804 km (499 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 101.30 min. A Thor booster carrying the first DMSP Block 5D satellite was launched from SLC-10, Western Test Range. The launch was successful but the satellite lost stability and began to tumble after attaining orbit. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1977 June 5

02:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2U.

AMS 2 - . Payload: DMSP 5D S-2/Star 37S S/N 15003 / OPS 5644. Mass: 450 kg (990 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D. USAF Sat Cat: 10033 . COSPAR: 1977-044A. Apogee: 849 km (527 mi). Perigee: 788 km (489 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 101.30 min.
An LV-2F booster launched the second DMSP Block 5D satellite into orbit from Vandenberg AFB, California. The launch was marred by a series of anomalies which put the satellite in a retrograde orbit and a spinning condition. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

1978 May 1

03:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2U.

AMS 3 - . Payload: DMSP 5D S-3 / OPS 6182. Mass: 513 kg (1,130 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D. USAF Sat Cat: 10820 . COSPAR: 1978-042A. Apogee: 799 km (496 mi). Perigee: 786 km (488 mi). Inclination: 98.70 deg. Period: 100.70 min. A Thor LV-2F was launched from Vandenberg AFB carrying the third DMSP Block 5D-1 satellite. The launch was successful, and the spacecraft and its sensors functioned normally once in orbit. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1979 June 6

18:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2U.

AMS 4 - . Payload: DMSP 5D S-5 / OPS 5390. Mass: 513 kg (1,130 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D. USAF Sat Cat: 11389 . COSPAR: 1979-050A. Apogee: 826 km (513 mi). Perigee: 805 km (500 mi). Inclination: 98.60 deg. Period: 101.20 min. A Thor LV-2F booster successfully launched the fourth DMSP Block 5D-1 satellite into low earth orbit. The launch site was Space Launch Complex 10, Vandenberg AFB, California. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1980 July 15

02:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2U. FAILURE: Separation problem gutted wiring from spacecraft.. Failed Stage: 2.

AMS 5 - . Payload: DMSP 5D S-4. Mass: 513 kg (1,130 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D. Decay Date: 1980-07-14 .
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Although there was a press release immediately after the launch (by the spacecraft SPO) that said the 2nd stage motor exploded, in reality the problem was found to be due to poor design of the electrical connectors between the 2nd and third stages and a separation problem that ripped the wiring out of the spacecraft.