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The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
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A Thor-Agena missile for the Discoverer X satellite exploded 56 seconds after launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on Friday, scattering fragments into the sea with no injuries. The Air Force plans to continue the series despite the failure. Separately, a nose cone from a Dec. 1 launch at Cape Canaveral was recovered in the Bahamas, possibly containing high-altitude Earth photos.
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Missile Explodes
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., (AP)--Despite another failure, the Air Force will resume its Discoverer satellite series aimed at teaching man how to enter and return from space. A 78-foot Discoverer X missile veered off course Friday after launching and headed for nearby seacoast cities. The Air Force destroyed the towering Thor-Agena missile at 20,000 feet, 56 seconds after launching. A terrific blast rocked this missile base, then a big orange fireball swelled in the sky. A mushroom of black smoke blotted out the fiery sphere as the sky rained missile fragments the size of automobiles. Most of the fragments fell in the sea. Despite the deadly shower, there were no injuries or property damage. Cause of the malfunction was not immediately determined. The missile was another failure in the Air Force's attempt to put a satellite into orbit, then recover its space capsule. Six Discoverers have achieved orbit so far but no capsule has been retrieved. At Cape Canaveral, the Air Force announced a nose cone data capsule from a Thor Intermediate Range missile launched there Dec. 1 has been recovered on a Bahaman island. It may contain the first high-altitude color pictures of the earth.
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Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.; Cape Canaveral; Bahaman Island
Event Date
Friday; Dec. 1
Story Details
A Thor-Agena missile for Discoverer X veered off course 56 seconds after launch from Vandenberg, was destroyed at 20,000 feet, exploding into fragments that fell mostly in the sea with no damage. Air Force to continue series despite sixth orbital success but no recoveries. Separately, Dec. 1 Thor nose cone recovered in Bahamas with possible Earth photos.