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.[1]
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1961 Psi 1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1961-023A |
| SATCAT no. | 00181 |
| Mission duration | 2 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-3 Corona''' |
| Bus | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Launch mass | 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 August 1961, 20:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 323 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 9 September 1961 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 138 kilometers (86 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 511 kilometers (318 mi) |
| Inclination | 82 degrees |
| Period | 91 minutes |
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The launch of Discoverer 29 occurred at 20:00 UTC on 30 August 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Psi 1.
Discoverer 29 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 138 kilometres (86 mi), an apogee of 511 kilometres (318 mi), 82 degrees of inclination, and a period of 91 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb),[4] and was equipped with a panoramic camera with a focal length of 61 centimetres (24 in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 metres (25 ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle two days after launch, but all of the images returned were found to be out of focus.[4] The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 29 was SRV-554.[2] Once its images had been returned, Discoverer 29 remained in orbit until it decayed on 9 September 1961.[3]
References
edit- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-3 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "KH-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
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