# Thor-Ablestar

> American expendable launch system

**Wikidata**: [Q1093848](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1093848)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor-Ablestar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thor-ablestar

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Thor-Ablestar** based strictly on the provided source material:

---

## Summary  
Thor-Ablestar is an American expendable launch system derived from the Thor rocket family. It was developed by Douglas Aircraft Company and primarily used for launching military and scientific satellites during the early 1960s. The rocket is notable for its role in deploying early navigation and communication satellites.

## Key Facts  
- **Type**: Expendable launch system  
- **Parent Rocket Family**: Thor  
- **Manufacturer**: Douglas Aircraft Company  
- **Country of Origin**: United States  
- **Based On**: Thor-Able, an earlier variant used for re-entry tests and satellite launches (1958–1960)  
- **Aliases**: Thor-Epsilon, Thor Able-Star  
- **Notable Payloads**: Transit series satellites, Solrad 1, ANNA 1B, Courier 1B  
- **Commons Category**: Thor Able Star  
- **Wikidata Description**: American expendable launch system  

## FAQs  
### Q: What rockets was Thor-Ablestar derived from?  
A: Thor-Ablestar was based on the Thor-Able, an earlier American launch system used for re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960.  

### Q: What kind of satellites did Thor-Ablestar launch?  
A: It primarily launched military and scientific satellites, including the Transit navigation satellites, Solrad solar monitoring satellites, and ANNA geodesy satellites.  

### Q: Who manufactured Thor-Ablestar?  
A: The rocket was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, a major American aerospace firm.  

## Why It Matters  
Thor-Ablestar played a critical role in the early U.S. space program, enabling the deployment of key military and scientific satellites. Its launches supported advancements in navigation (Transit series), solar radiation monitoring (Solrad), and geodesy (ANNA). As part of the Thor rocket family, it contributed to the development of reliable expendable launch systems, paving the way for later orbital missions. Its legacy lies in its adaptability and its role in Cold War-era space technology.  

## Notable For  
- **Early Satellite Launches**: Deployed pioneering satellites like Transit 1B and Solrad 1.  
- **Military Applications**: Supported U.S. Navy and Department of Defense missions.  
- **Derived from Thor-Able**: Inherited design elements from a proven launch system.  

## Body  
### Development and Design  
- Derived from the **Thor-Able** launch system.  
- Manufactured by **Douglas Aircraft Company**.  

### Launch History  
- Carried payloads such as:  
  - **Transit series** (navigation satellites).  
  - **Solrad 1** (solar X-ray surveillance).  
  - **ANNA 1B** (geodesy research).  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Country**: United States.  
- **Category**: Expendable launch vehicle.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Thor-Ablestar",
  "description": "American expendable launch system derived from the Thor rocket family.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7796219",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor-Ablestar"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Rocket Model"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BabelNet