Discoverer 23
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1961 Lambda 1 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-5 Argon |
| Bus | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Launch mass | 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 8 April 1961, 19:21 UTC |
| Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 307 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg LC-1 launch pad 75-3-5 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 16 April 1962 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 294 kilometers (183 mi) |
| Apogee | 624 kilometers (388 mi) |
| Inclination | 82.3 degrees |
| Period | 93.8 minutes |
Discoverer 23, also known as Corona 9016A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1] It was the second KH-5 mission to be launched, and the second to end in failure.
Launch
The launch of Discoverer 23 occurred at 19:21 UTC on 8 April 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 Lambda 1.
Operation
Discoverer 23 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 294 kilometres (183 mi), an apogee of 624 kilometres (388 mi), 82.3 degrees of inclination, and a period of 93.77 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb),[4] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 127-millimeter (5.0 in) film, and ejected aboard a Satellite Return Vehicle, SRV-521. Due to a problem with Discoverer 23's attitude control system, the SRV ended up boosting itself into a higher orbit rather than deorbiting.[4] Discoverer 23 decayed from orbit on 16 April 1962, followed by the SRV on 23 May 1962.[3][4]
References
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