THOR ABLE-STAR PHOTO CAPTIONS
By Roger E. Moore, NAR #70129
Roger70129@aol.com
=====
"TAS COMPOSITE 1"
Caption on reverse side of photo reads:
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO
Air Force Missile Test Center
Photographic Laboratory
Operated by RCA
62-025-103/12412-53 1/23/62
CCMTA, SSD:AEROSPACE, PAD 17B.
ERECTION & FAIRING INSTALLATION
OF COMPOSITE 1 PAYLOAD.
UNCLASSIFIED
[This photo shows the payload fairing and collection of five satellites collectively known as Composite 1, which failed to achieve orbit on a Thor Able-Star (Thor #311, model DM-21A) on 01/24/1962, launched from Pad 17B of the Atlantic Missile Range (Florida). The payload has been mounted on the Able-Star second stage, #010.]
=====
"TAS COMPOSITE 2"
Caption on reverse side of photo reads:
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO
Air Force Missile Test Center
Photographic Laboratory
Operated by RCA
62-025-097/12412-53 1/23/62
CCMTA, SSD:AEROSPACE, PAD 17B.
ERECTION & FAIRING
INSTALLATION OF COMPOSITE 1
PAYLOAD.
UNCLASSIFIED
[This photo shows the payload fairing and collection of five satellites collectively known as Composite 1 (also "Buckshot"), which failed to achieve orbit on a Thor Able-Star (Thor #311, model DM-21A) on 01/24/1962, due to low booster thrust. The vehicle was launched from Pad 17B of the Atlantic Missile Range (Florida). The payload has been mounted on the Able-Star second stage, #010.]
=====
"TAS 3"
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO
Air Force Missile Test Center
Photographic Laboratory
Operated by RCA
61-161-043 6/7/61
CCMTA, AEROSPACE, PAD 17B
THOR MISSILE #315 ON PAD WITH
TRIPLE SATELLITES IN NOSE.
GREBE, INJUN AND TRANSIT 4-A
SATELLITES
UNCLASSIFIED
[This photo shows the Thor Able-Star vehicle (Thor #315, model DM-21A) on 06/07/1961, resting on its pad several weeks prior to its successful launching on 06/29/1961. The satellite called Grebe was also named Solrad 3. The Able-Star second stage is #008.]
=====
"TAS 4"
[This is a cropped shot taken from the photo labelled TAS 3, above, to show only the Thor Able-Star vehicle.]
=====
Share with your friends: |