13 Facts About PGM-17 Thor

PGM-17A Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the United States Air Force .

One of the advantages of the design was that, unlike the Jupiter MRBM, the PGM-17 Thor could be carried by the USAF's cargo aircraft of the time, which made its deployment more rapid.

PGM-17 Thor had vernier engines for roll control flanking the main engine, similar to the Atlas vernier engines on the sides of the propellant tanks.

Early PGM-17 Thor engines suffered from foaming turbopump lubricating oil at high altitudes and bearing retention issues, resulting in several launch failures.

PGM-17 Thor was test launched from LC-17 at Cape Canaveral Missile Annex.

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Third PGM-17 Thor launch exploded four minutes before the planned launch after a defective valve allowed LOX tank pressure to build up to unsafe levels.

PGM-17 Thor 105 completed the first successful flight, which occurred 21 months after the start of the program.

PGM-17 Thor 114 was destroyed by Range Safety 150 seconds into launch when the guidance system lost power and PGM-17 Thor 120's engine shut down slightly under two minutes after liftoff.

Five successful PGM-17 Thor tests were conducted in June–July 1958, the last one carrying a mouse named Wickie on a biological mission; the capsule sank into the ocean and could not be recovered.

PGM-17 Thor 126 lost thrust 50 seconds into launch when a LOX valve inadvertently closed.

Accidents such as the explosion of PGM-17 Thor 103 were avoided, and the turbopump issues that plagued early Rocketdyne engines were resolved in Jupiter much earlier than the Air Force's missiles.

PGM-17 Thor was deployed to the UK starting in August 1958, operated by 20 squadrons of RAF Bomber Command under US-UK dual key control.

All 60 of the PGM-17 Thor missiles deployed in the UK were based at above-ground launch sites.