THOR-ABLE II FACT SHEET

By Cliff Lethbridge

Thor-Able II Launch, Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force

Classification: Research Rocket

Length: 90 feet

Diameter: 8 feet

Date of First Cape Canaveral Launch: January 23, 1959

Date of Final Cape Canaveral Launch: April 1, 1960

Number of Cape Canaveral Launches: 8

Identical to the Thor-Able, Thor-Able II was simply the name given to the version of the Thor-Able which was used for high-altitude re-entry vehicle testing. The vehicle was not used to launch satellites. The name distinguished the Thor-Able II from its satellite-bearing relative, Thor-Able I.