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Launch of the Delta J with Explorer 38
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Function | Expendable launch system |
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Country of origin | United States |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | Vandenberg SLC-2E |
Total launches | 1 |
Success(es) | 1 |
UTC date of spacecraft launch | 4 July 1968 |
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 37DSRM.
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]
Orbital launch systems developed in the United States
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Thor and Delta rockets
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