This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com
astronautix.com KH-1
Code Name: Corona. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA.

First US film reconnaisance satellite, and first polar orbiting satellite. Carried one 'C' type camera, with a focal length of 61 cm and a ground resolution of 12 m.

Specification

Total Mass: 779 kg.

KH-1 Chronology

21 January 1959 Thor Agena test Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failure.

Fist flight test of Thor-Agena for KH program.

28 February 1959 Discoverer 1 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 618 kg. Perigee: 163 km. Apogee: 968 km. Inclination: 89.7 deg.

First polar orbiting satellite; KH-1 prototype; did not carry camera or film capsule.

13 April 1959 Discoverer 2 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 743 kg. Perigee: 239 km. Apogee: 346 km. Inclination: 89.9 deg.

KH-1 prototype; tested capsule recovery techniques; did not carry camera; capsule recovery failed.

03 June 1959 SRV Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Failure.
25 June 1959 Discoverer 4 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Agena-A failed. Mass: 743 kg.

KH-1; 1st generation low resolution photo surveillance. Failed to achieve orbit.

13 August 1959 Discoverer 5 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 781 kg. Perigee: 214 km. Apogee: 731 km. Inclination: 79.9 deg.

KH-1; 1st generation low resolution photo surveillance; film capsule boosted into higher orbit, decayed 2/11/61. Mission failed. Power supply failure. No recovery.

19 August 1959 Discoverer 6 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 783 kg. Perigee: 207 km. Apogee: 846 km. Inclination: 83.9 deg.

KH-1; 1st generation low resolution photo surveillance; film capsule recovery failed. Mission failed. Retro rockets malfunctioned negating recovery.

07 November 1959 Discoverer 7 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 794 kg. Perigee: 158 km. Apogee: 820 km. Inclination: 81.6 deg.

KH-1; 1st generation low resolution photo surveillance; satellite tumbled; film capsule not recovered. Mission failed. Failed to achieve orbit.

20 November 1959 Discoverer 8 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 795 kg. Perigee: 186 km. Apogee: 1,661 km. Inclination: 80.5 deg.

KH-1; 1st generation low resolution photo surveillance; film capsule recovery failed. Mission failed. Eccentric orbit negating recovery.

04 February 1960 SRV 113 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Failure.
19 February 1960 SRV 110 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Failure.
15 April 1960 Discoverer 11 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 790 kg. Perigee: 166 km. Apogee: 603 km. Inclination: 80.4 deg.

KH-1; film capsule recovery failed. Mission failed. Attitude control system malfunctioned.

29 June 1960 Discoverer 12 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. FAILURE: Agena-A attitude control failure. Mass: 790 kg.

KH-1 prototype; designed to test capsule recovery system; did not carry camera.

10 August 1960 Discoverer 13 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 850 kg. Perigee: 258 km. Apogee: 683 km. Inclination: 82.8 deg.

KH-1 prototype; designed to test capsule recovery system; did not carry camera; capsule successfully recovered from ocean.

18 August 1960 Discoverer 14 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 850 kg. Perigee: 177 km. Apogee: 803 km. Inclination: 79.6 deg.

KH-1; film capsule recovered 1.2 days later; 1st successful photosurveillance mission. First successful mission. Cameras operated satisfactorily.

13 September 1960 Discoverer 15 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A. Mass: 863 kg. Perigee: 200 km. Apogee: 755 km. Inclination: 80.9 deg.

KH-1; film capsule lost at sea. Mission failed. Attained orbit successfully. Capsule sank prior to retrieval.

Bibliography:

Back to Index
Last update 12 March 2001.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .