Long Tank Thor

The Long Tank Thor was an advanced version of the Thor space launch vehicle that first appeared in 1966. It was designed to carry heavier military payloads into space than its predecessor, the Thrust-Augmented Thor (TAT). The original Thor missile was developed by the U.S. Air Force as an intermediate-range ballistic missile and was later adapted for use as the first stage of various spacecraft launch vehicles.

The basic Thor rocket was 65 feet long and 8 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 110,000 pounds at launch. It was propelled by liquid oxygen and kerosene. For space launches, additional motors were added to create the TAT, significantly increasing its power. When combined with an Agena rocket as a second stage, it formed the Thor-Agena rocket, used for launching satellites. The Long Tank Thor was 70.5 feet long with an 8-foot diameter.1