KH-4 18 [USAF]
The KH-4 (Keyhole-4) was fourth version in the Corona-program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite. Only the first two satellites were launched under the name Discoverer, before this designation was dropped.
The KH-4 payload introduced a second camera to provide stereoscopic imaging. The Corona-M or Mural camera consisted of two C''' (Corona triple-prime) cameras inherited from KH-3. The cameras were mounted with 30 degrees separation angle. The two cameras are referred to as fore (for forward looking) and aft (for rear looking). KH-4 also carried a 4 cm index camera, with a focal length of 38 mm, a ground resolution of 162 m, and frame coverage of 308 km × 308 km. The Film was returned by a single General Electric return vehicle (SRV, Satellite Return Vehicle). The Mural-camera was built by Itek Corporation and had a ground resolution of 7.5 m.
The satellite was based on the Agena-D 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.
Earlier KH-4 missions were based on the Agena-B stage.
Some missions featured piggy-back payloads, which remained connected to the Agena-D stage.
Two missions carried small satellites into orbit.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Reconnaissance, photo (film return type) |
Operator: | CIA |
Contractors: | Lockheed |
Equipment: | Mural-camera, index camera |
Configuration: | Agena-D, 1 SRV |
Propulsion: | Bell 8096, Star-12 retro motor |
Power: | Batteries |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | ~1200 kg (incl. Agena stage) |
Orbit: |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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KH-4 7 (Corona 45, Mission 9038, Taki 2) | 1962 αγ | 28.06.1962 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 10 (Corona 48, Mission 9041) | 1962 ακ 1 | 02.08.1962 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 11 & RM 3 (Corona 49, Mission 9044) | 1962 ασ | 29.08.1962 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 13 & RM 4 (Corona 52, Mission 9045) | 1962 ββ | 29.09.1962 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 16 (Corona 57, Mission 9049, Red Vino 1) | 1962 βσ | 04.12.1962 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 17 (Corona 58, Mission 9050, Taki 3) | 1962 βφ | 14.12.1962 | Va 75-3-5 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 18 (Corona 59, Mission 9051, New Jersey 2, OPS 0048, FTV 1157) | 1963-002A | 07.01.1963 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 19 (Corona 60, Mission 9052, Red Vino 2, OPS 0583) | 1963-F02 | 28.02.1963 | Va 75-3-5 | F | Thor-SLV2A Agena-D | |
KH-4 20 (Corona 62, Mission 9053, OPS 0720, FTV 1660) | 1963-007A | 01.04.1963 | Va 75-3-5 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 21 (Corona 65, Mission 9054, Wild Bill 3, OPS 0954) | 1963-019A | 12.06.1963 | Va 75-3-4 | Thor-SLV2A Agena-D | ||
KH-4 22 (Corona 66, Mission 9056, OPS 0999) | 1963-025A | 27.06.1963 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-SLV2A Agena-D | with Hitchhiker 1 | |
KH-4 23 (Corona 67, Mission 9057, OPS 1266) | 1963-029A | 19.07.1963 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 24 & RM 5 (Corona 73, Mission 9060, OPS 2268) | 1963-F14 | 09.11.1963 | Va 75-1-2 | F | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | |
KH-4 25 (Corona 74, Mission 9061, Long John 2, OPS 2260) | 1963-048A | 27.11.1963 | Va LC-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | ||
KH-4 26 (Corona 75, Mission 9062, Long John 1, OPS 1388) | 1963-055A | 21.12.1963 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-SLV2A Agena-D | with Pundit 2 |