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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]

References

  1. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-3 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b 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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