Mission type | Technology |
---|---|
Operator | US Air Force/ARPA |
Harvard designation | 1960 Tau 1 |
COSPAR ID | 1960-019A |
SATCAT no. | 00068 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Agena-B |
Manufacturer | Lockheed |
Launch mass | 1,060 kilograms (2,340 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 20 December 1960, 20:32 UTC |
Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 258 |
Launch site | Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 |
End of mission | |
Decay date | 23 January 1961 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 206 kilometers (128 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 578 kilometers (359 mi) |
Inclination | 83.4 degrees |
Period | 92.4 minutes |
Discoverer 19, also known as RM-1, was an American satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B. [1]
The launch of Discoverer 19 occurred at 20:32 UTC on 20 December 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Tau 1.
Discoverer 19 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 206 kilometres (128 mi), an apogee of 578 kilometres (359 mi), 83.4 degrees of inclination, and a period of 92.4 minutes. [3] The satellite had a mass of 1,060 kilograms (2,340 lb), [4] and was used to demonstrate technology for the Midas programme, [5] including infrared sensors. [4] Communication with the satellite was lost on Christmas Day 1960. It remained in orbit until 23 January 1961, [3] when it decayed and reentered the atmosphere.
Discoverer 30, also known as Corona 9022, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B rocket.
Discoverer 25, also known as Corona 9017, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the fifth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.
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FTV-2203, also known as Samos 5, was an American reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961 as part of the Samos programme. It was a film return reconnaissance spacecraft, meaning that it returned images in a film capsule at the end of its mission. FTV-2203 was a Samos-E5 spacecraft, based on the Agena-B. It carried a camera with a focal length of 1.67 metres and a resolution of 1.5 metres.
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Discoverer 17, also known as Corona 9012, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 12 November 1960 at 20:38:00 GMT. It was the second of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.
Discoverer 29, also known as Corona 9023, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the first KH-3 Corona''' satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket.
Discoverer 31, also known as Corona 9024, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.
Discoverer 32, also known as Corona 9025, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.
Discoverer 35, also known as Corona 9028, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the last of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.
Discoverer 36, also known as Corona 9029, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona satellite, based on an Agena-B rocket. It was the penultimate KH-3 satellite to be launched, the last successful mission, and the most successful of the program.
Discoverer 21, also known as RM-2, was an American satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B.
Discoverer 6, also known as Corona 9003, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 19 August 1959 at 19:24:44 GMT, the third of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Though the spacecraft was orbited successfully, the onboard camera ceased operating by the second orbit, and the film-return capsule could not be recovered.
Discoverer 7, also known as Corona 9004, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 7 November 1959 at 20:28:41 GMT, the fourth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Though the satellite was orbited successfully, its film capsule failed to separate from the main satellite.
Discoverer 8, also known as Corona 9005, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 20 November 1959 at 19:25:24 GMT, the fifth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Overburn by the carrier rocket placed the satellite in a higher apogee, more eccentric orbit than planned, the camera failed to operate, and the film return capsule was lost on reentry after separation from the main satellite on 21 November.