Discoverer 29

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Discoverer 29
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
Operator US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation1961 Psi 1
COSPAR ID 1961-023A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 00181 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Mission duration2 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type KH-3 Corona'''
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date30 August 1961, 20:00 (1961-08-30UTC20Z) UTC
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B 323
Launch site Vandenberg LC-75-3-4
End of mission
Decay date9 September 1961 (1961-09-10)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 138 kilometers (86 mi)
Apogee altitude 511 kilometers (318 mi)
Inclination 82 degrees
Period 91 minutes
 
The launch of Discoverer 29 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 29 (Aug. 30, 1961).gif
The launch of Discoverer 29

Discoverer 29, also known as Corona 9023, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the first KH-3 Corona''' satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket. [1]

The launch of Discoverer 29 occurred at 20:00 UTC on 30 August 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Psi 1.

Discoverer 29 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 138 kilometres (86 mi), an apogee of 511 kilometres (318 mi), 82 degrees of inclination, and a period of 91 minutes. [3] The satellite 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 recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle two days after launch, but all of the images returned were found to be out of focus. [4] The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 29 was SRV-554. [2] Once its images had been returned, Discoverer 29 remained in orbit until it decayed on 9 September 1961. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-3 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "KH-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2010.


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