Delta G
Encyclopedia
The Delta G, or Thor-Delta G was an American
expendable launch system
used to launch two biological research satellites in 1966 and 1967. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets.
The Delta G was a two stage derivative of the Delta E
. The first stage was a Thor
missile in the DSV-2C
configuration, and the second stage was a Delta E. Three Castor-1 solid rocket booster
s were clustered around the first stage. The solid-fuel upper stage used on the Delta E was not used on the Delta G.
Both launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Complex 17
. The first was from pad 17A on 14 December 1966 at 19:20 GMT, with Biosatellite 1. At 22:04 on 7 September 1967, Biosatellite 2 was launched from pad B on the second Delta G.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
used to launch two biological research satellites in 1966 and 1967. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets.
The Delta G was a two stage derivative of the Delta E
Delta E
The Delta E, or Thor-Delta E was an American expendable launch system used for twenty-three orbital launches between 1965 and 1971. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets....
. The first stage was a Thor
PGM-17 Thor
Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the U.S. Air Force . Named after the Norse god of thunder, it was deployed in the United Kingdom between 1959 and September 1963 as an intermediate range ballistic missile with thermonuclear warheads. Thor was in height and in diameter. It was...
missile in the DSV-2C
Thor DSV-2
The Thor DSV-2 was a series of sounding rockets, test vehicles, and anti-satellite weapons derived from the Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missile. It was also used as the first stage of several Thor-derived expendable launch systems-Thor DSV-2D:...
configuration, and the second stage was a Delta E. Three Castor-1 solid rocket booster
Solid rocket booster
Solid rocket boosters or Solid Rocket Motors, SRM, are used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from the launchpad up to burnout of the SRBs. Many launch vehicles include SRBs, including the Ariane 5, Atlas V , and the NASA Space Shuttle...
s were clustered around the first stage. The solid-fuel upper stage used on the Delta E was not used on the Delta G.
Both launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
Launch Complex 17
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17 , previously designated Launch Complex 17 , was a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida used for Thor and Delta rocket launches between 1958 and 2011....
. The first was from pad 17A on 14 December 1966 at 19:20 GMT, with Biosatellite 1. At 22:04 on 7 September 1967, Biosatellite 2 was launched from pad B on the second Delta G.