Delta J

Launch of the Delta J with Explorer 38
FunctionExpendable launch system
Country of originUnited States
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesVandenberg, SLC-2E
Total launches1
Success(es)1
UTC date of spacecraft launch4 July 1968
[edit on Wikidata]

The Delta J or Thor-Delta J was an American expendable launch system of the late 1960s. Only one was launched, with the Explorer 38 spacecraft. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets.

The Delta J was derived from the Delta E. The first stage was a Thor missile in the DSV-2C configuration, with three Castor-1 solid rocket boosters clustered around it. A Delta E was used as the second stage. The Altair third stage of the Delta E was replaced with the more powerful Star 37D SRM.

The only Delta J to fly was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 2E on 4 July 1968. It successfully placed the Explorer 38 satellite into medium Earth orbit.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24.
  2. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Family". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
Stub icon

This rocketry article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.