Discoverer 17

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Discoverer 17
KH-2 CORONA.jpg
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
Operator US Air Force / NRO
Harvard designation1960 Omicron 1
COSPAR ID 1960-015A
SATCAT no. 00061 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Mission duration2 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Corona KH-2
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,091 kilograms (2,405 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date12 November 1960, 20:38:00 (1960-11-12UTC20:38Z) GMT
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B
(Thor 297)
Launch site Vandenberg, LC 75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date29 December 1960 (1960-12-30)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 190 kilometers (120 mi)
Apogee altitude 984 kilometers (611 mi)
Inclination 81.8°
Period 96.45 minutes
 

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. [1]

Contents

Background

Discoverer 17 was the second of the KH-2 Corona spy satellites, which was distinguished from the predecessor KH-1 series in its incorporation of the improved C' camera, which replaced the C model carried on KH-1 missions. The improved camera had variable image motion compensation so that its carrying satellites could be flown in differing orbits. Like the C camera, the C' was manufactured by Fairchild Camera and Instrument under the supervision of Itek, [2] : 63–64  a defense contractor that specialized in making cameras for spy satellites. [2] : 34  The satellite also carried a Transit on Discoverer (TOD) payload [3]

Discoverer 16, the first of the KH-2 series, had failed to reach orbit after its launch on 26 October 1960. [3]

Mission

The launch of Discoverer 17. Thor Agena B with Discoverer 17 (Nov. 12, 1960).jpg
The launch of Discoverer 17.

The launch of Discoverer 17 occurred at 20:38:00 GMT on 12 November 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from LC 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [3] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Omicron 1. It was the first KH-2 satellite to successfully reach orbit.

Discoverer 17 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 190 kilometres (120 mi), an apogee of 984 kilometres (611 mi), 81.8° of inclination, and a period of 96.45 minutes. [4] The satellite had a mass of 1,091 kilograms (2,405 lb), [5] 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). [6] Images were recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle (SRV). The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 17 was SRV-507. [5]

Shortly after Discoverer 17 began operations, its SRV separated prematurely. Two days after launch it was deorbited and recovered, [6] however only 52 centimetres (20 in) of film was found to be aboard, and no images were taken. [5] [7] Following the separation of the SRV, Discoverer 17 remained in orbit until it decayed on 29 December 1960. [8]

Science Results

In addition to its reconnaissance payload, Discoverer 17 carried a biological research payload, intended to investigate human tissues in space. Since at the time the United States did not publicly acknowledge its reconnaissance satellite programs, this was officially the satellite's primary mission. Unexpectedly high radiation levels during the flight led to the data from this experiment being considered particularly valuable by US Air Force scientists. [5] Nevertheless, "samples of human gamma globulin and rabbit antiserum specific for human gamma globulin showed an increase in reactivity, and samples of synovial and conjunctival cells showed no changes in their cytological characteristics." [9]

Related Research Articles

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Discoverer 14, also known as Corona 9009, was a spy satellite used in the Corona program managed by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. On 19 August 1960, usable photographic film images of the Soviet Union taken by the satellite were recovered by a C-119 recovery aircraft. This was the first successful recovery of film from an orbiting satellite and the first mid-air recovery of an object returning from Earth orbit.

Discoverer 13 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 11 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 11, also known as Corona 9008, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 15 Apr 1960 at 20:30:37 GMT. The eighth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it successfully employed the first space-worthy camera film; however, Discoverer's film return capsule was lost during reentry on 16 Apr when the satellite's spin motors exploded.

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 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 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 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 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 4 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 4, also known as Corona 9001, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 25 Jun 1959 at 22:47:45 GMT, the first of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, and the first satellite to be equipped for photo surveillance. The satellite was not successfully orbited. Its loss spurred improvements of its rocket booster to ensure the success of subsequent missions.

Discoverer 9 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 9, also known as Corona 9006, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 4 Feb 1960 at 18:51:45 GMT, the sixth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, and the first of them to be equipped with a new, vacuum-proof, polyester-based film. The satellite was not successfully orbited.

Discoverer 10 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 10, also known as Corona 9007, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 19 Feb 1960 at 20:15:14 GMT, the seventh of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series,

Discoverer 2 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 2 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 13 April 1959 at 21:18:39 GMT, the second of three test flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Discoverer 2 was the first satellite to be stabilized in orbit in all three axes and to be maneuvered on command from the earth. Though it carried no film and thus conducted no surveillance, Discoverer 2 was both the first satellite equipped with a reentry capsule and the first to return a payload from orbit. A timing error caused the reentry capsule to land near the island of Spitsbergen, Norway, rather than Hawaii. A joint US-Norway recovery operation was mounted, but was unsuccessful, and there was fear that the capsule ended in the possession of the Soviet Union. Such claims have never been verified. The flight and loss of Discoverer 2 was the inspiration for the book and film Ice Station Zebra.

Discoverer 3 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 3 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 3 June 1959 at 20:09:20 GMT, the third of three test flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. The first Discoverer mission to carry live animal passengers, Discoverer 3 was lost when its carrying Agena-A booster crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Discoverer 5 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 5, also known as Corona 9002, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 13 August 1959 at 19:00:08 GMT, the second of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Though the satellite was successfully orbited, the onboard camera failed within the first orbit, and the film-return capsule failed to deorbit.

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.

Discoverer 7 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 7, also known as Corona 9004, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 7 November 1959 at 20:28:41 GMT, the fourth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Though the satellite was orbited successfully, its film capsule failed to separate from the main satellite.

Discoverer 8 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 8, also known as Corona 9005, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 20 November 1959 at 19:25:24 GMT, the fifth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. Overburn by the carrier rocket placed the satellite in a higher apogee, more eccentric orbit than planned, the camera failed to operate, and the film return capsule was lost on reentry after separation from the main satellite on 21 November.

Discoverer 12 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 12 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 29 Jun 1960 at 22:00:44 GMT. The fourth of five test flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it was lost when the second stage failed during launch.

Discoverer 15 Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 15, also known as Corona 9010, was a spy satellite used in the Corona program managed by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. Launched on 13 September 1960, the satellite took reconnaissance photos of the Soviet Union. However, its recoverable film capsule was lost in the Pacific Ocean after reentry outside the recovery zone on 15 September.

References

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-2 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 Day, Dwayne A.; Logsdon, John M.; Latell, Brian (1998). Eye in the Sky: The Story of the Corona Spy Satellites. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 176. ISBN   1-56098-830-4.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathon's Space Report. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. ↑ https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1960-015A - 5 September 2019
  5. 1 2 3 4 Wade, Mark. "KH-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  7. ↑ Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-2 Corona". Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  8. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Significant Achievements in Space Bioscience 1958-1964. Washington D.C.: NASA. 1966. p. 70. OCLC   914183237.
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