This history is intended as a quick orientation source and as a ready-reference for review of the Thor and its systems. The report briefly states the development of Thor, summarizes and chronicles Thor missile and booster launchings, provides illustrations and descriptions of the vehicle systems, relates their genealogy, explains some of the performance capabilities of the Thor and Thor-based vehicles used, and focuses attention to the exploration of space by Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.
This paper considers many of the factors and criteria which have to be considered and evaluated when selecting a specific rocket engine for a given vehicle application. The lists of criteria can be helpful as checklists in design and systems engineering of a rocket propulsion device. About ten different applications are examined to illustrate the relative importance of some of these selection criteria. There will be groupings of our major types of criteria; namely, performance, operational, economic and so-called judgment criteria. In many cases the last three categories are equally or more important than the performance criteria in selecting one of several rocket engines for a specific application. The actual selection usually is a compromise to make the rocket engine responsive to several important criteria.
This section contains reports related to the Limestone County Historical Survey. Relates specifically to maps and soil maps, including descriptions and historical significance. Maps and Soil Maps not included.
This section contains reports and maps related to the Madison County Historical Site Survey. Maps appear to be hand-drawn. Contains reports and maps from Madison County, Mississippi and Madison County, Alabama.