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Project Thor was an idea for a weapons system that launches telephone pole-sized kinetic projectiles made from tungsten from Earth's orbit to damage targets on the ground. Jerry Pournelle created the concept while working in operations research at Boeing in the 1950s before becoming a science-fiction writer. [8] [9]
Thor 278 missile, Johnston Island, Program 437 Program 437 layout on Johnston Island Program 437 Launch Site Layout. Program 437 was the second anti-satellite weapons program of the U.S. military. [1] The US anti-satellite weapons program began development in the early 1960s and was officially discontinued on 1 April 1975.
Compared to hard-kill methods for engaging drones, THOR's radio bursts have a wider engagement range, are silent, and are instantaneous. Intended for base defense, the system resembles a 20 ft (6.1 m) shipping container with a satellite dish attached.
The 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron was activated in late 1963 [1] to operate Weapons System 437, using nuclear equipped Thor missiles. The squadron was located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, but launch facilities were at Johnston Island Air Force Base. Two missiles were stationed at each location.
Program 437 turned the PGM-17 Thor into an operational anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon system, a capability that was kept top secret even after it was deployed. The Program 437 mission was approved for development by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on November 20, 1962, and based at the atoll.
The White House publicly confirmed on Thursday that Russia has obtained a “troubling” emerging anti-satellite weapon but said it cannot directly cause “physical destruction” on Earth.
The Thor DSV-2 was a series of sounding rockets, test vehicles, and anti-satellite weapons derived from the Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missile. It was also used as the first stage of several Thor-derived expendable launch systems .
The U.S. has gathered highly sensitive intelligence about Russian anti-satellite weapons that has been shared in recent weeks with the upper echelons of government, according to four people who ...