Discoverer Thor
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Simply the best and cheapest way to get in on the space program past &
present. High quality, reasonable price and first class components set these kits
apart from other historic rocket kits on the market today.
This kit is our first Dr. Zooch “Easy Build.” Oh sure you
still have to cut out and glue stuff, but it’s a great kit for a
B.A.R. (Born Again Rocketeer) or for someone new to
rocketry. It’s also a good kit for the advanced rocket
geek. Although it is not a skill level one, it is not quite a
level two, so we’ll call it a skill level 1.78469. It flies on
any 18mm motor such as an “A” “B” or “C.” NO
ENGINES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS KIT. When
finished this semi-scale kit stands ~14.8 inches tall and is
a high flyer. Recovery is by parachute but use of a C-119
aircraft to snag the rocket is not recommended since all C-
119s were condemned about a decade ago.
Length 15.5"
Fin span 3.6"
Weight 1.83oz.
Recommended Motor:
B Thru C
Retail 24.95
Buy It Now
23.50

Video of The Discoverer Thor
Taking Off.
Discoverer Thor
In the first months of 1959, Thor Agena rockets began launching the “Discoverer” satellites.
At a rate of nearly one per month these payloads were unique because after they reentered
the earth’s atmosphere, their parachutes were snagged by C-119 aircraft and they were
recovered. In the 1960s and 1970s we space buffs went into our school libraries and read
about the interesting scientific things that those Discoverers had done- indeed it was all
scientific, it was all about exploration, it was all… A BIG FAT LIE!! In fact, those Discoverer
stories were simply a CIA disinformation cover story to mask the launches of the top secret
Corona spy satellites! All of that dreaming that we space buffs did about those launches was
nothing more than a fiction, a fib, disinformation to make us tools in the cold war and fool the
Soviets. All those hours spent reading were a waste… of course none of us found that out until
we grew up. And now they wonder why we’re cynics! Well now you can get back at them,
(whoever they are… or were) you can get your very own Dr. Zooch Discoverer Thor, build it
and fly it in full view of the public and shout “There world, look at the top secret Corona
rocket right here in this [insert: schoolyard, soccer field, football field, local park, back yard or
secret location that not even the CIA knows about]!” Then again… you may want to build it in
total secret, launch it in even more secret and then tell the neighbors that they saw nothing at
all… perhaps it was swamp gas. Just think, in the 1960s this model would have gotten you a
visit by guys in blue suits and dark glasses who carry metal brief cases, but today… it may get
you a visit by guys in white coats or the local cops depending on how often and how loud the
shout the above listed statement or where you launch it. We even pull a spoof on the CIA by
attaching the Corona nosecone and Agena upper stage to a Thor with fins! You see the real
Corona, or shall we say “Discoverer” vehicles were launched on finless Thors, so HA! Wrong
booster! (Okay… so our rocket won’t fly without fins… but that’s beside the point…) Take
that you disinformation feeders in the CIA! Here’s one on you!