Able (rocket stage)

The Ablestar second stage was an enlarged version of the Able rocket stage, which gave the Thor-Ablestar a greater payload capacity compared to the earlier Thor-Able.

[2] The Able stage name represents its place as the first in the series, from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.

[3] To save weight Aerojet used an aluminum tube for the engine thrust chamber.

The Able rocket stage and the Vanguard project were an important part of the Space Race between the US and Soviet Union.

In honor of the rocket stage during an animals in space test, a rhesus monkey named Miss Able, flew with Miss Baker on May 28, 1959.