Discoverer 21

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Discoverer 21
Mission typeTechnology
Operator US Air Force/ARPA
Harvard designation1961 Zeta 1
COSPAR ID 1961-006A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 00084 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Spacecraft properties
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,110 kilograms (2,450 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date18 February 1961, 22:58 (1961-02-18UTC22:58Z) UTC
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B 261
Launch site Vandenberg LC-1 launch pad 75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date20 April 1962 (1962-04-21)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 243 kilometers (151 mi)
Apogee altitude 1,026 kilometers (638 mi)
Inclination 80.7 degrees
Period 97.4 minutes
 
  RM-1
Midas 3  
The launch of Discoverer 21 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 21 (Feb. 18, 1961).gif
The launch of Discoverer 21

Discoverer 21, also known as RM-2, was an American satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B. [1]

The launch of Discoverer 21 occurred at 22:58 UTC on 18 February 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from launch pad 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Zeta 1.

Discoverer 21 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 243 kilometres (151 mi), an apogee of 1,026 kilometres (638 mi), 80.7 degrees of inclination, and a period of 97.4 minutes. [3] The satellite had a mass of 1,110 kilograms (2,450 lb), [4] and was used to demonstrate an engine restart, [5] and to test infrared sensors for the Midas programme. [4] It remained in orbit until 20 April 1962, [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 21". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA . Retrieved 30 June 2010.