ths@lanl-a.UUCP (09/25/84)
I had read back in 1959 that the "new" second stage for the Thor was the power plant for the B-58 pod. The first launch of this rocket that was to become the Thor-Agena was in February of 59. At that time it was referred to as the "Thor-Hustler". The unit was built by Bell and produced 16,000 lb of thrust. The first satellites that were launched by this new combination were the Discoverer series. These were followed by the Midas and Samos series of spy satellites that eventually used the Atlas as the first stage. I believe I can probably find the appropriate Aviation Week article from that year if I dig thru my archives (5 boxes of newspaper clippings and magazine articles that my wife affectionately refers to as "your junk", she has no appreciation for my emotional attachment to those early years of space exploration). With respect to the B-58 being carried by the B-36. I was under the distinct impression that this was done simply to ferry the B-58 from its manufacturing site in Ft. Worth to Wright-Pat where it was to undergo testing. I am much suprised that there is information indicating that there was some thought to making this combo some form of "weapons system". I'd like to hear more about it if someone has additional info.