Discoverer 22

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Discoverer 22
KH-2 CORONA.jpg
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
Operator US Air Force/NRO
Mission durationFailed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Corona KH-2
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date30 March 1961, 20:34:43 (1961-03-30UTC20:34:43Z) UTC
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B 300
Launch site Vandenberg LC-1 launch pad 75-3-4
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Epoch Planned
The launch of Discoverer 22 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 22 (Mar. 30, 1961).gif
The launch of Discoverer 22

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. [1]

The launch of Discoverer 22 occurred at 20:34:43 UTC on 30 March 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from launch pad 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [2] Due to a malfunction of the rocket's second stage, it failed to achieve orbit. [3]

Discoverer 22 was to have operated in a low Earth orbit. It had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb), [4] 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). [5] Images were to have been recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle carried aboard Discoverer 22 was SRV-509. [4]

References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "KH-2 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  3. Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-2 Corona". Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "KH-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  5. "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2010.