MISSION OVERVIEW
Ariel is a series of British research satellites. Ariel 1 was designed to study solar radiation and its impact on Earth’s ionosphere.
LAUNCH DETAILS
VEHICLE
Thor DeltaAGENCY
United States Air ForceMISSION
Ariel 1
MISSION TYPE
Earth Science
TARGET ORBIT
Low Earth Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
Space Launch Complex 17ALAUNCH SITE
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USACOUNTRY
USA
LAUNCH TIME VERIFICATION
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: d2983489-21bd-47b7-aa63-54b4aa90755f
Reported date: Apr 26, 1962 at 18:00 UTC
Last synced: 10 hours ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
LAUNCH MAP
PAD WEATHER
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VEHICLE — Thor Delta →
MANUFACTURER
McDonnell Douglas
VARIANT
Delta
FLIGHTS
9
SUCCESSES
8
SUCCESS RATE
88.9%
American orbital launch vehicle. Commercial name for the military's Thor-Delta.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Thor Delta | Ariel 1 launch?
The Thor Delta | Ariel 1 is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, 1962 at 6:00 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Ariel 1?
The Thor Delta | Ariel 1 mission uses the Thor Delta rocket, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The Thor Delta has flown 9 times with a 88.9% success rate.
Where is the Thor Delta | Ariel 1 launching from?
The launch takes place from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit is Ariel 1 going to?
The Ariel 1 mission is targeting Low Earth Orbit.
Who is launching Ariel 1?
The Thor Delta | Ariel 1 is operated by United States Air Force.
Can I watch the Thor Delta | Ariel 1 launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
LAUNCH TIMELINE
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch date set: Apr 26, 1962 at 18:00 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by United States Air Force
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
LIVE DATA SOURCES
Last data sync: 10 hours ago
●Launch Library 210 hours ago
Launch ID: d2983489-21bd-47b7-aa63-54b4aa90755f
●Open-Meteo Weather11 hours ago
Pad weather at 28.45, -80.57
