Discoverer 19

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Discoverer 19
Mission typeTechnology
Operator US Air Force/ARPA
Harvard designation1960 Tau 1
COSPAR ID 1960-019A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 00068 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Spacecraft properties
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,060 kilograms (2,340 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date20 December 1960, 20:32 (1960-12-20UTC20:32Z) UTC
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B 258
Launch site Vandenberg LC-75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date23 January 1961 (1961-01-24)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 206 kilometers (128 mi)
Apogee altitude 578 kilometers (359 mi)
Inclination 83.4 degrees
Period 92.4 minutes
 
  Midas 2
RM-2  
The launch of Discoverer 19 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 19 (Dec. 20, 1960).gif
The launch of Discoverer 19

Discoverer 19, also known as RM-1, was an American satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B. [1]

The launch of Discoverer 19 occurred at 20:32 UTC on 20 December 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Tau 1.

Discoverer 19 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 206 kilometres (128 mi), an apogee of 578 kilometres (359 mi), 83.4 degrees of inclination, and a period of 92.4 minutes. [3] The satellite had a mass of 1,060 kilograms (2,340 lb), [4] and was used to demonstrate technology for the Midas programme, [5] including infrared sensors. [4] Communication with the satellite was lost on Christmas Day 1960. It remained in orbit until 23 January 1961, [3] when it decayed and reentered the atmosphere.

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References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "RM 1, 2 (Discoverer 19, 21)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Midas". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  5. "Discoverer 19". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA . Retrieved 30 June 2010.