Mission type | Photographic reconnaissance |
---|---|
Operator | US Air Force / NRO |
Harvard designation | 1961 Lambda 1 |
COSPAR ID | 1961-011A |
SATCAT no. | 00100 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | KH-5 ARGON |
Bus | Agena-B |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
Launch mass | 1150 kg |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 8 April 1961, 19:21:08 | GMT
Rocket |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B (Thor 307) |
Launch site |
Vandenberg,
SLC-1E Launch pad 75-3-5 |
End of mission | |
Decay date | 16 April 1962 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 294 km |
Apogee altitude | 624 km |
Inclination | 82.3° |
Period | 93.77 minutes |
Discoverer 23, also known as KH-5 9016A, was a USAF photographic reconnaissance satellite under the supervision of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-5 ARGON satellite, based on an Agena-B. [1] It was the second KH-5 mission to be launched, and the second to end in failure. [2]
The launch of Discoverer 23 occurred at 19:21:08 GMT on 8 April 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from launch pad 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [3] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Lambda 1.
Discoverer 23 was operated in an Earth orbit, with a perigee of 294 kilometres (183 mi), an apogee of 624 kilometres (388 mi), 82.3° of inclination, and a period of 93.77 minutes. [4] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb), [5] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft). [6] Images were recorded onto 127 millimetres (5.0 in) film, and ejected aboard a Satellite Return Vehicle, SRV-521. Due to a problem with Discoverer 23's attitude control system, the SRV ended up boosting itself into a higher orbit rather than deorbiting. [5] Discoverer 23 decayed from orbit on 16 April 1962, followed by the SRV on 23 May 1962. [4]· [5]
Mission type | Photographic reconnaissance |
---|---|
Operator | US Air Force / NRO |
Harvard designation | 1961 Lambda 1 |
COSPAR ID | 1961-011A |
SATCAT no. | 00100 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | KH-5 ARGON |
Bus | Agena-B |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
Launch mass | 1150 kg |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 8 April 1961, 19:21:08 | GMT
Rocket |
Thor DM-21 Agena-B (Thor 307) |
Launch site |
Vandenberg,
SLC-1E Launch pad 75-3-5 |
End of mission | |
Decay date | 16 April 1962 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 294 km |
Apogee altitude | 624 km |
Inclination | 82.3° |
Period | 93.77 minutes |
Discoverer 23, also known as KH-5 9016A, was a USAF photographic reconnaissance satellite under the supervision of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-5 ARGON satellite, based on an Agena-B. [1] It was the second KH-5 mission to be launched, and the second to end in failure. [2]
The launch of Discoverer 23 occurred at 19:21:08 GMT on 8 April 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from launch pad 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [3] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Lambda 1.
Discoverer 23 was operated in an Earth orbit, with a perigee of 294 kilometres (183 mi), an apogee of 624 kilometres (388 mi), 82.3° of inclination, and a period of 93.77 minutes. [4] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb), [5] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft). [6] Images were recorded onto 127 millimetres (5.0 in) film, and ejected aboard a Satellite Return Vehicle, SRV-521. Due to a problem with Discoverer 23's attitude control system, the SRV ended up boosting itself into a higher orbit rather than deorbiting. [5] Discoverer 23 decayed from orbit on 16 April 1962, followed by the SRV on 23 May 1962. [4]· [5]