 CORONA KH-2 satellite | |
| Names | CORONA 9027 DISCOVERER XXXIV |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
| Operator | U.S. Air Force /NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1961 Alpha Epsilon 1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1961-029A |
| SATCATno. | 00197 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | DISCOVERER XXXIV |
| Spacecraft type | CORONA KH-2 |
| Bus | Agena B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
| Launch mass | 1,150 kg (2,540 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 November 1961, 20:00:30GMT[1] |
| Rocket | Thor-Agena B (Thor 330 / Agena 1117) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg,LC-75-1-1 |
| Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Company /Lockheed Corporation |
| Entered service | 5 November 1961 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 7 December 1962 |
| Landing date | SRV 553 |
| Landing site | Not attempted |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 227 km (141 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,011 km (628 mi) |
| Inclination | 82.70° |
| Period | 97.20 minutes |
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DISCOVERE 34, also known asCORONA 9027, was aUnited States opticalreconnaissance satellite which was launched on 5 November 1961. It was the ninth of tenCORONA KH-2 satellites, based on theAgena B.[3]
The launch of DISCOVERER 34 occurred at 20:00:30 GMT on 5 November 1961.[1] AThor-Agena B launch vehicle was used, flying fromLaunch Complex 75-1-1 at theVandenberg Air Force Base.[1] Although the satellite achieved orbit, and was assigned theHarvard designation 1961 Alpha Epsilon 1, the launch was unsuccessful. An anomalous angle taken during ascent resulted in the spacecraft being placed into an unusable orbit.[4] It was the second consecutive KH-2 launch failure; the previous mission,Discoverer 33, had failed to achieve orbit due to a separation failure.
DISCOVERER 34 was launched into alow Earth orbit, with aperigee of 227 km (141 mi), anapogee of 1,011 km (628 mi), 82.7° ofinclination, and aperiod of 97.20 minutes.[2] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kg (2,540 lb),[5] and was equipped with apanoramic camera with afocal length of 61 cm (24 in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 m (25 ft).[6] Images were to have been recorded onto 70 mm (2.8 in) film, and returned in aSatellite Recovery Vehicle (SRV). The Satellite Recovery Vehicle to be used by DISCOVERER 34 was SRV-553. Due to the launch failure, and a problem with a gas valve on the spacecraft, recovery of the SRV was not attempted.[4] Discoverer 34decayed from orbit on 7 December 1962.[2]
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