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LT Thor Agena D - LT Thor Agena D - COSPAR 1969-051 17,222 bytes. 139 x 466 pixels. |
Thor Agena upgraded with Long Tank Thor stage. Variant with straight tank from Delta was Thorad (Long Tank Augmented Thrust Thor Delta)
Launches: 43. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 95.35% pct. First Launch Date: 09 August 1966. Last Launch Date: 25 May 1972. Liftoff Thrust: 160,200 kgf. Total Mass: 88,731 kg. Core Diameter: 2.4 m. Total Length: 34.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 22.17 million. in 1985 unit dollars.
KH-4A. All cameras operated satisfactorily.
KH-4A. Second pan geometry mission. Higher than normal base plus fog encountered on both main camera records.
KH-4A. Due to the failure of the booster cut-off switch, the satellite went into a highly eccentric orbit. Significant image degradation.
Radar monitoring. Due to the failure of the booster cut-off switch, the satellite went into a highly eccentric orbit.
KH-4A. Small out-of-focus area in forward camera of 1042-1.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4A. Forward camera film came out of the rails on pass 230D. Film degraded past this point.
KH-4B. First mission of the KH-4B series. Best film to date.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4A. All cameras operated fine.
KH-4B. Noticeable image smear for forward camera, but best imagery to date.
KH-4A. All cameras operated satisfactorily.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4A. Image quality good for 1046-1 and fair for 1046-2.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4B. Out-of-focus imagery is present on both main camera records.
Launched with Secor 10.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4A. Out-of-focus imagery is present on both main camera records.
KH-4B. Best imagery to date on any KH-4 systems. Bicolor and color infrared experiments were conducted on this mission.
KH-4A. Film in the forward camera separated and camera failed on mission 1048-2, also the stellar/index camera unit failed.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4B. Image quality is variable and displays areas of soft focus and image smear.
ABM monitoring.
![]() | LT Thor Agena D - LT Thor Agena D - COSPAR 1966-102 7,221 bytes. 108 x 404 pixels. |
KH-4B. The best image quality to date.
ABM monitoring.
KH-4A. Due to abnormal rotational rates after revolution 22, the mission was terminated after a total of three days collecting photography.
Radar monitoring.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Primary experiments consisted of a satellite infrared spectrometer (SIRS) for determining the vertical temperature profiles of the atmosphere, an infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) for measuring the emission spectra of the earth-atmosphere system, both high- and medium-resolution infrared radiometers (HRIR and MRIR) for yielding information on the distribution and intensity of infrared radiation emitted and reflected by the earth and its atmosphere, monitor of ultraviolet solar energy (MUSE) for detecting solar UV radiation, image dissector camera system for providing daytime cloudcover pictures in both real-time mode using the real time transmission system and tape recorder mode using the high data rate storage system, radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) SNAP-19 to assess the operational capability of radioisotope power for space applications, and an interrogation, recording and location system (IRLS) experiment designed to locate, interrogate, record, and retransmit meteorological and geophysical data from remote collection stations. Nimbus-3 was successful and performed normally until July 22, 1969, when the IRIS experiment failed. The HRIR and the SIRS experiments were terminated on January 25, 1970, and June 21, 1970, respectively. The remaining experiments continued operation until September 25, 1970, when the rear horizon scanner failed. Without this horizon scanner, it was impossible to maintain proper spacecraft attitude, thus making most experimental observations useless. All spacecraft operations were terminated on January 22, 1972.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4A. Imagery of both pan camera records is soft and lacks crispness and edge sharpness.
OGO 6 was a large observatory instrumented with 26 experiments designed to study the various interrelationships between, and latitudinal distributions of, high-altitude atmospheric parameters during a period of increased solar activity. On June 22, 1969, the spacecraft potential dropped significantly during sunlight operation and remained so during subsequent sunlight operation. This unexplained shift affected seven experiments which made measurements dependent upon knowledge of the spacecraft plasma sheath. During October 1969, a string of solar cells failed, but the only effect of the decreased power was to cause two experiments to change their mode of operation. Also during October 1969, a combination of manual and automatic attitude control was initiated, which extended the control gas lifetime of the attitude control system. In August 1970, tape recorder (TR) no. 1 operation degraded, so all recorded data were subsequently taken with TR no. 2. By September 1970, power and equipment degradation left 14 experiments operating normally, 3 partially, and 9 off. From October 14, 1970, TR no. 2 was used only on Wednesdays (world days) to conserve power and extend TR operation. In June 1971, the number of 'on' experiments decreased from 13 to 7, and on June 28, 1971, the spacecraft was placed in a spin-stabilized mode about the yaw (Z) axis and turned off due to difficulties with spacecraft power. OGO 6 was turned on again from October 10, 1971, through March 1972, for operation of experiment 25 by The Radio Research Laboratory, Japan.
KH-4B. Forward camera failed on pass 1 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission.
Radar monitoring. Last of the KH-4A missions.
KH-4A. Last of the KH-4A missions, all camera systems operated satisfactorily.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Identified by McDowell as probable NRL ELINT satellite.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily and the mission carried 811 ft of aerial color film added to the end of the film supply.
Space Electric Rocket Test; electric ion engine tests. Two engines, operated until 1980
Radar monitoring; may or may not have existed!!!
KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily but the overall image quality of both the forward and aft records is variable.
Environmental research. Primary experiments consisted of an image dissector camera system for providing daytime cloudcover pictures both in real-time and recorded modes, temperature-humidity infrared radiometer (THIR) for measuring daytime and nighttime surface and cloudtop temperatures as well as the water vapor content of the upper atmosphere, infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) for measuring the emission spectra of the earth/atmosphere system, satellite infrared spectrometer (SIRS) for determining the vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor in the atmosphere, a monitor of ultraviolet solar energy (MUSE) for detecting solar UV radiation, a backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) detector for monitoring the vertical distribution and total amount of atmospheric ozone on a global scale, a filter wedge spectrometer (FWS) for accurate measurement of IR radiance as a function of wavelength from the earth/atmosphere system, a selective chopper radiometer (SCR) for determining the temperatures of six successive 10-km layers in the atmosphere from absorption measurements in the 15-micrometer CO2 band, and an interrogation, recording, and location system (IRLS) for locating, interrogating, recording, and retransmitting meteorological and geophysical data from remote collection stations. The spacecraft performed well until April 14, 1971, when attitude problems started. The experiments then operated on a limited time basis until September 30, 1980.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
KH-4B. The overall image quality is less than that provided by recent missions and 2,000 feet of S0-349
Radar monitoring; may or may not have existed!!!.
KH-4B. The overall image quality is good.
KH-4B. The forward camera failed on pass 104 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission.
Radar monitoring.
KH-4B. Mission failed.
KH-4B. The overall image quality is good and comparable to the best of past missions. On-board program failed
Radar monitoring.
KH-4B. Overall image quality is good.
Space Test Program; technology experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Ocean surveillance; White Cloud (?) type spacecraft; test flight. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
KH-4B. Very successful mission and image quality was good.
KH-4B. Last KH-4B mission. Very successful mission, image quality was good. Final CORONA mission.