KH-2 3 [USAF]
The KH-2 (Keyhole-2) was second version in the Corona-program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite. These satellites were all launched under the name Discoverer.
The KH-2 payload consisted of the improved C' (Corona prime) single panoramic camera and a single General Electric return vehicle (SRV, Satellite Return Vehicle). The improved and simplified C'-camera was built by the Fairchild Camera Co. and with a f/5.0 aperture and 61 cm focal length had a ground resolution of 10.7 m.
The satellite was based on the larger Agena-B upper stage, which provided attitude control in orbit. The film return capsule carried its own small solid-fuel retro motor to deorbit at the end of the mission with mid-air recovery of the returning capsule by a specially equipped aircraft.
Ten KH-2 satellites were launched, of which four resulted in a successful return of film. Four missions failed to orbit.
Some satellites carried secondary payloads mounted on the satellite:
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Reconnaissance, photo (film return type) |
Operator: | CIA |
Contractors: | Lockheed |
Equipment: | C'-Camera |
Configuration: | Agena-B, 1 SRV |
Propulsion: | Bell 8081, Star-12 retro motor |
Power: | Batteries |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | |
Orbit: |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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KH-2 1 (Corona 16, Mission 9011, Discoverer 16, Soctop 3) | 1960-F15 | 26.10.1960 | Va 75-3-4 | F | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | |
KH-2 2 (Corona 17, Mission 9012, Discoverer 17, Soctop 4) | 1960 ο | 12.11.1960 | Va 75-3-5 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | ||
KH-2 3 (Corona 18, Mission 9013, Discoverer 18) | 1960 σ | 07.12.1960 | Va 75-3-4 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | ||
KH-2 4 (Corona 22, Mission 9015, Discoverer 22, Soctop 5) | 1961-F02 | 30.03.1961 | Va 75-3-4 | F | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | |
KH-2 5 (Corona 25, Mission 9017, Discoverer 25, Taki (1), Soctop 6) | 1961 ξ 1 | 16.06.1961 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | ||
KH-2 6 (Corona 26, Mission 9019, Discoverer 26, Wild Bill, Soctop 7) | 1961 π | 07.07.1961 | Va 75-3-4 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | ||
KH-2 7 (Corona 28, Mission 2021, Discoverer 28, Taki (2), Soctop 8) | 1961-F08 | 04.08.1961 | Va 75-1-1 | F | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | |
KH-2 8 (Corona 33, Mission 9026, Discoverer 33) | 1961-F10 | 23.10.1961 | Va 75-3-5 | F | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | |
KH-2 9 (Corona 34, Mission 9027, Discoverer 34, Topsoc 4) | 1961 αε 1 | 05.11.1961 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B | ||
KH-2 10 (Corona 35, Mission 9028, Discoverer 35) | 1961 αζ 1 | 15.11.1961 | Va 75-3-4 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B |