Discoverer 34

Last updated

DISCOVERER 34
KH-2 CORONA.jpg
CORONA KH-2 satellite
NamesCORONA 9027
DISCOVERER XXXIV
Mission type Optical reconnaissance
Operator U.S. Air Force / NRO
Harvard designation1961 Alpha Epsilon 1
COSPAR ID 1961-029A
SATCAT no. 00197
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftDISCOVERER XXXIV
Spacecraft type CORONA KH-2
Bus Agena B
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
Launch mass1,150 kg (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 November 1961,
20:00:30 GMT [1]
Rocket Thor-Agena B
(Thor 330 / Agena 1117)
Launch site Vandenberg, LC-75-1-1
Contractor Douglas Aircraft Company / Lockheed Corporation
Entered service5 November 1961
End of mission
Decay date7 December 1962
Landing dateSRV 553
Landing siteNot attempted
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [2]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 227 km (141 mi)
Apogee altitude 1,011 km (628 mi)
Inclination 82.70°
Period 97.20 minutes
 
Launch of DISCOVERER 34 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 34 (Nov. 5 1961).jpg
Launch of DISCOVERER 34

DISCOVERE 34, also known as CORONA 9027, was a United States optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched on 5 November 1961. It was the ninth of ten CORONA KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena B. [3]

Launch

The launch of DISCOVERER 34 occurred at 20:00:30 GMT on 5 November 1961. [1] A Thor-Agena B launch vehicle was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-1-1 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [1] Although the satellite achieved orbit, and was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Alpha Epsilon 1, the launch was unsuccessful. An anomalous angle taken during ascent resulted in the spacecraft being placed into an unusable orbit. [4] It was the second consecutive KH-2 launch failure; the previous mission, Discoverer 33, had failed to achieve orbit due to a separation failure.

DISCOVERER 34 was launched into a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 227 km (141 mi), an apogee of 1,011 km (628 mi), 82.7° of inclination, and a period of 97.20 minutes. [2] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kg (2,540 lb), [5] and was equipped with a panoramic camera with a focal length of 61 cm (24 in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 m (25 ft). [6] Images were to have been recorded onto 70 mm (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle (SRV). The Satellite Recovery Vehicle to be used by DISCOVERER 34 was SRV-553. Due to the launch failure, and a problem with a gas valve on the spacecraft, recovery of the SRV was not attempted. [4] Discoverer 34 decayed from orbit on 7 December 1962. [2]

Related Research Articles

Discoverer 13 American reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 13 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 10 Aug 1960 at 20:37:54 GMT. The last of five test flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it was the first fully successful flight in the Discoverer series. On 11 Aug, after 17 orbits, the satellite's reentry capsule was recovered in the Pacific Ocean by the Haiti Victory. Its payload, an American flag, was presented to President Eisenhower four days later.

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 Reconnaissance satellite

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.

Discoverer 24, also known as Corona 9018A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961 but failed to achieve orbit. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. It was the third KH-5 to be launched.

Discoverer 27, also known as Corona 9020A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961, but which failed to achieve orbit. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. It was the fourth KH-5 to be launched, the second consecutive KH-5 launch failure, and the fourth consecutive KH-5 mission failure.

FTV-1132, also known as the Corona 9042A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. The satellite operated successfully, but its film capsule was lost during recovery due to a parachute failure.

Discoverer 22 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 22, also known as Corona 9015, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the fourth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 26 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 26, also known as Corona 9019, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the sixth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 28 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 28, also known as Corona 9021, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the seventh of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 16 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 16, also known as Corona 9011, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure on 26 October 1960. It was the first of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 17 Reconnaissance satellite

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 18 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 18, also known as Corona 9013, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 7 December 1960 at 20:24:00 GMT. It was the first successful, and the third of ten total 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 33 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 33, also known as Corona 9026, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the eighth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 35 Reconnaissance satellite

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 37, also known as Corona 9030, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1962. It was the last KH-3 Corona‴ satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket.

Discoverer 6 Reconnaissance satellite

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Trajectory: DISCOVERER 34 (1961-029A)". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ Krebs, Gunter (7 February 2018). "KH-2 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 Lindborg, Christina; Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-3 Corona". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Wade, Mark. "KH-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2010.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.