Lesson plan
Thor-Able
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and spacecraft launches between 1958 and 1960. It was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. For satellite or space probe launches, an Altair solid rocket motor was added as a third stage. It was a member of the Thor family and an early predecessor of the Delta. The Able upper stage name represents its place as the first in the series, from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet. The Thor-Able vehicle had a stronger airframe than the standard Thor IRBM and had the inertial guidance system replaced by a radio guidance package mounted on the Able stages.
Article summary
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and spacecraft launches between 1958 and 1960. It was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. For satellite or space probe launches, an Altair solid rocket motor was added as a third stage. It was a member of the Thor family and an early predecessor of the Delta. The Able upper stage name represents its place as the first in the series, from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet. The Thor-Able vehicle had a stronger airframe than the standard Thor IRBM and had the inertial guidance system replaced by a radio guidance package mounted on the Able stages.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.