corona (satellite) - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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KH-1 CORONA main features



KH-4 CORONA M (Agena-B service

module) main features

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Coronaprogram was a series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites

produced and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Science &

Technology with substantial assistance from the U.S. Air Force. The Corona satellites

were used for photographic surveillance of the Soviet Union (USSR), the People's

Republic of China, and other areas beginning in June 1959 and ending in May 1972.

The name of this program is sometimes seen as "CORONA", but its actual name"Corona" was a codeword, not an acronym.

The Corona satellites were designated KH-1, KH-2, KH-3, KH-4, KH-4Aand

KH-4B. KH stood for "Key Hole" or "Keyhole" (Code number 1010),[1]with the name

being an analogy to the act of spying into a person's room by peering through their

door's keyhole. The incrementing number indicated changes in the surveillance

instrumentation, such as the change from single-panoramic to double-panoramic

cameras. The "KH" naming system was first used in 1962 with KH-4 and the earlier

numbers were retroactively applied. There were 144 Corona satellites launched, of

which 102 returned usable photographs.

1 History and costs

2 Technology

2.1 Corona launches with system types

3 Discoverer

4 ELINT subsatellites

5 Declassification

6 Launches

7 Photo gallery

8 See also

9 Popular culture

10 References

11 Bibliography

12 External links

Corona started under the name "Discoverer" as part of the WS-117L satellite

reconnaissance and protection program of the US Air Force in 1956. The WS-117L was

based on recommendations and designs from the RAND Corporation.[2]The United

States Air Force credits the Onizuka Air Force Station as being the "birthplace of the Corona program."[3]In May 1958, the

Department of Defense directed the transfer of the WS-117L program to Advanced Research Projects Agency. In FY1958,

WS-117L was funded by the AF at a level of US$108.2 million (inflation adjusted US$0.88 billion in 2014). For Discoverer,

the Air Force and ARPA spent a combined sum of US$132.3 million in FY1959 (inflation adjusted US$1.07 billion in 2014)

and US$101.2 million in FY1960 (inflation adjusted US$0.81 billion in 2014).[4]

na (satellite) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_

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KH-4 CORONA M (Agena-D service

module) main features

KH-4A CORONA J1 main features

KH-4B CORONA J3 main features

KH-4B Corona satellite

The Corona project was pushed forward rapidly following the shooting down of a U-2

spy plane over the Soviet Union in May 1960.

The Corona satellites used special 70 millimeter film with a 24-inch (610 mm) focal

length camera.[5]Manufactured by Eastman Kodak, the film was initially 0.0003 inches

(7.6 m) thick, with a resolution of 170 lines per 0.04 inches (1.0 mm) of film.[6][7]The

contrast was 2-to-1.[6](By comparison, the best aerial photography film produced in

World War II could produce just 50 lines per 0.04 inches (1.0 mm) of film.)[6]The

acetate-based film was later replaced with a polyester-based film stock that was more

durable in earth orbit.[8]The amount of film carried by the satellites varied over time.

Initially, each satellite carried 8,000 feet (2,400 m) of film for each camera, for a total

of 16,000 feet (4,900 m) of film.[6]But a reduction in the thickness of the film stock

allowed more film to be carried.[8]The amount of film carried was doubled (both by

reductions in film thickness and by the addition of additional film capsules) by the time

the fifth generation of the satellite was built, to 16,000 feet (4,900 m) of film for each

camera for a total of 32,000 feet (9,800 m) of film.[9]Most of the film shot was black

and white. Infrared film was used on mission 1104, and color film on missions 1105and 1008. Color film proved to have lower resolution, however, and was never used

again.[10]

The cameras were manufactured by the Itek Corporation.[11]A 12-inch (30 cm), f/5

triplet lens was designed for the cameras.[12]Each lens was 7 inches (18 cm) in

diameter.[6]They were quite similar to the Tessar lenses developed in Germany by

Zeiss.[13]The cameras themselves were initially 5 feet (1.5 m) long, but later extended

to 9 feet (2.7 m) in length.[14]Beginning with the KH-4 satellites, these lenses were

replaced with Petzval f/3.5 lens.[10]The lenses were panoramic, and moved through a

70 arc perpendicular to the direction of the orbit.[6]A panoramic lens was chosen

because it could obtain a wider image. Although the best resolution was only obtained

in the center of the image, this could be overcome by having the camera sweep

automatically ("reciprocate") back and forth across 70 of arc.[15]The lens on the camera

was constantly rotating, to counteract the blurring effect of the satellite moving over the

planet.[10]

The first Corona satellites had a single camera, but a two-camera system was quickly

implemented.[16]The front camera was tilted 15 forward, and the rear camera tilted 15

aft, so that a stereoscopic image could be obtained.[6]Later in the program, the satellite

employed three cameras.[16]The third camera was employed to take "index" photographs

of the objects being stereographically filmed.

[17]

The J-3 camera system, first deployed in 1967, placed the camera in a drum.This "rotator camera" (or drum) moved back and forth, eliminating the need to move the camera itself on a reciprocating

mechanism.[18]The drum permitted the use of up to two filters and as many as four different exposure slits, greatly improving

the variability of images that Corona could take.[19]The first cameras could resolve images on the ground down to 40 feet

(12 m) in diameter. Improvements in the imaging system were rapid, and the KH-3 missions could see objects 10 feet (3.0 m)

in diameter. Later missions would be able to resolve objects just 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter.[20]A single mission was completed

with a 1 foot (0.30 m) resolution but the limited field of view was determined to be detrimental to the mission. 3 feet (0.91 m)

resolution was found to be the optimum resolution for quality of image and field of view.

The initial Corona missions suffered from mysterious border fogging and bright streaks which appeared irregularly on the

returned film. Eventually, a team of scientists and engineers from the project and from academia (among them Luis Alvarez,


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Recovery of Discoverer 14 return

capsule (typical for the Corona

series)

Diagram of "J-1" type

stereo/panoramic constantly

rotating Corona reconnaissance

satellite camera system used on

KH-4A missions from 1963 to

1969.

Lockheed's covert "advanced projects"

facility at Hiller Aircraft in Menlo Park,

California.

Sidney Beldner, Malvin Ruderman, and Sidney Drell) determined that electrostatic

discharges (called corona discharges) caused by some of the components of the cameras

were exposing the film.[21][22]Corrective measures included better grounding of the

components, improved film rollers that did not generate static electricity, improved

temperature controls, and a cleaner internal environment.[22]Although improvements were

made to reduce the corona, the final solution was to load the film canisters with a full load

of film and then feed the unexposed film through the camera onto the take-up reel with no

exposure. This unexposed film was then processed and inspected for corona. If none was

found or the corona observed was within acceptable levels, the canisters were certified foruse and loaded with fresh film for a launch mission.

The first satellites in the program orbited at altitudes 100 miles (160 km) above the surface

of the Earth, although later missions orbited

even lower at 75 miles (121 km)).[10]

Originally, Corona satellites were designed to

spin along their main axis so that the satellite

would remain stable. Cameras would take

photographs only when pointed at the Earth.

The Itek camera company, however, proposed

to stabilize the satellite along all three

axeskeeping the cameras permanentlypointed at the earth.[13]Beginning with the

KH-3 version of the satellite, a horizon camera

took images of several key stars.[17]A sensor

used the satellite's side thruster rockets to align

the rocket with these "index stars," so that it was correctly aligned with the Earth and the

cameras pointed in the right direction.[23]Beginning in 1967, two horizon cameras were

used. This system was known as the Dual Improved Stellar Index Camera (DISIC).[19]

Film was retrieved from orbit via a reentry capsule (nicknamed "film bucket"), designed

by General Electric, which separated from the satellite and fell to earth.[24]After the fierce heat of reentry was over, the heat

shield surrounding the vehicle was jettisoned at 60,000 feet (18 km) and parachutes deployed.[25]The capsule was intended tobe caught in mid-air by a passing airplane[26]towing an airborne claw which would then winch it aboard, or it could land at

sea.[27]A salt plug in the base would dissolve after two days, allowing the capsule to sink if it was not picked up by the United

States Navy.[28]After Reuters reported on a reentry vehicle's accidental landing and discovery by Venezuelan farmers in

mid-1964, capsules were no longer labeled "Secret" but offered a reward in eight languages for their return to the United

States.[29]Beginning with flight number 69, a two-capsule system was employed.[21]This also allowed the satellite to go into

passive (or "zombie") mode, shutting down for as many as 21 days before taking images again.[9]Beginning in 1963, another

improvement was "Lifeboat", a battery-powered system that allowed for ejection and recovery of the capsule in case power

failed.[30][31]The film was processed at Eastman Kodak's Hawkeye facility in Rochester, New York.[32]

Coronas were launched by a Thor-Agena rocket, which used a Thor first stage and an Agena booster (which served as the

second stage of the rocket lifting the Corona into orbit).[33]With the implementation of the J-1 camera system in 1963, a

Thorad rocket was used for the first stage, leading to large improvements in launch reliability.[30]Later launches were made

using the Thrust Augmented Thor (TAT).[34]Maneuvering rockets were also added to the satellite beginning in 1963. These

were different from the attitude stabilizing thrusters which had been incorporated from the beginning of the program. Corona

orbited in very low orbits to enhance resolution of its camera system. But at perigee (the lowest point in the orbit), Corona

endured drag from the Earth's atmosphere. In time, this could cause its orbit to decay and force the satellite to re-enter the

atmosphere prematurely. The new maneuvering rockets were designed to boost Corona into a higher orbit, and lengthen the

mission time even if low perigees were used.[35]For use during unexpected crises, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

kept a Corona in "R-7" status, meaning ready for launch in seven days. By summer 1965 NRO was able to maintain Corona for

launch within one day.[36]


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The procurement and maintenance of the Corona satellites was managed by the Central Intelligence Agency, which used cover

arrangements lasting from April 1958 to 1969 to get access to the Palo Alto plant of the Hiller Helicopter Corporation for the

production.[37]At this facility, the rocket's second stage Agena, the cameras, film cassettes, and reentry capsule were

assembled and tested before shipment to Vandenberg Air Force Base.[38]In 1969, assembly duties were relocated to the

Lockheed facilities in Sunnyvale, California.[39](The NRO was worried that, as Corona was phased out, skilled technicians

worried about their jobs would quit the programleaving Corona without staff. The move to Sunnyvale ensured that enough

skilled staff would be available.)

The decisions regarding what to photograph were made by the Corona Target Program. Corona satellites were placed intonear-polar orbits.[20]This software, run by an on-board computer, was programmed to operate the cameras based on the

intelligence targets to be imaged, the weather, the satellite's operational status, and what images the cameras had already

captured.[40]Ground control for Corona satellites was initially conducted from Stanford Industrial Park, an industrial park on

Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, California. It was later moved to Sunnyvale Air Force Base near Sunnyvale, California.[41]

Corona launches with system types

Below is a list of Corona launches, as compiled by the United States Geological Survey.[42]This table lists government's

designation of each type of satellite (C, C-prime, J-1, etc.), the resolution of the camera, and a description of the camera

system.

Time period No. Nickname Resolution Notes Number

Jun 1959

Sep 1960KH-1 "Corona", C 7.5 m

First series of American imaging spy satellites.

Each satellite carried a single panoramic camera

and a single return vehicle.

10 systems; 1

recovery.

Oct 1960

Oct 1961KH-2

Corona, C(or

"C-prime")*7.5 m

Single panoramic camera and a single return

vehicle.

7 systems; 4

recoveries.

Aug 1961

Jan 1962KH-3

Corona, C(or

"C-triple-prime")*7.5 m

Single panoramic camera and a single return

vehicle.

9 systems; 5

recoveries.

Feb 1962

Dec 1963 KH-4 Corona-M, Mural 7.5 m Film return. Two panoramic cameras.

26 systems; 20

recoveries.

Aug 1963

Oct 1969KH-4A Corona J-1 2.75 m

Film return with two reentry vehicles and two

panoramic cameras. Large volume of imagery.

52 systems; 94

recoveries.

Sep 1967

May 1972KH-4B Corona J-3 1.8 m

Film return with two reentry vehicles and two

panoramic rotator cameras.

17 systems; 32

recoveries.

Feb 1961

Aug 1964KH-5 Argon 140 m

Low-resolution mapping missions; single frame

camera.

12 systems; 5

recoveries.

Mar 1963

July 1963KH-6 Lanyard 1.8 m Experimental camera in a short-lived program.

3 systems; 2

recoveries.

*(The stray "quote marks" are the original designations of the first three generations of cameras.)

The first dozen or more Corona satellites and their launches were cloaked with disinformation as being part of a space

technology development program called theDiscovererprogram. The first test launches for the Corona/Discovererwere

carried out early in 1959. The capsule of Discoverer 2 might have been recovered by the Soviets, after landing on Spitsbergen

Island.[38]The first Corona launch containing a camera was carried out in June 1959 with the cover nameDiscoverer 4. This

was a 750 kilogram satellite launched by a Thor-Agena rocket.


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Corona image of The Pentagon, 25

Sep 1967

Corona film bucket payload

Corona film recovery maneuver

The return capsule of the Discoverer 13 mission, which launched August 10, 1960, was

successfully recovered the next day.[43]This was the first time that any object had been

recovered successfully from orbit. After the mission of Discoverer 14, launched on

August 18, 1960, its film bucket was successfully retrieved two days later by a C-119

Flying Boxcar transport plane. This was the first successful return of photographic film

from orbit. In comparison, Sputnik 5 was launched into orbit on August 19, 1960, one

day after the launch of Discoverer 14. Sputnik 5 was a biosatellite that took into orbit

the two Soviet space dogs, Belka and Strelka, and then safely returned them to the

Earth .[44]

At least two launches ofDiscovererswere used to test satellites for the Missile Defense

Alarm System (MIDAS), an early missile-launch-detection program that used infrared

cameras to detect the heat signature of rockets launching to orbit.

The Coronafilm bucket was later adapted for the KH-7 GAMBIT satellite, which took

higher resolution photos.

The last launch under theDiscoverercover name wasDiscoverer 38on February 26,

1962. Its bucket was successfully recovered in midair during the 65th orbit (the 13th

recovery of a bucket; the ninth one in midair).[45]Following this last use of the

Discoverername, the remaining launches of Coronasatellites were entirely top secret.

The last Coronalaunch was on May 25, 1972. The project ended when Corona was

replaced by the KH-9 Hexagon program. The best sequence of Coronamissions was

from 1966 to 1971, when there were 32 consecutive successful missions, including film

recoveries.

An alternative program to the Coronaprogram

was named SAMOS. This program included

several types of satellite which used a different

photographic method. This involved capturing

an image on photographic film, developing the

film on board the satellite and then scanning the

image electronically. The image was then

transmitted via telemetry to ground stations. TheSamos E-1 and E-2 satellite programs used this system, but they were not able to take

very many pictures and then relay them to the ground stations each day. Two later

versions of the Samos program, such as the E-5 and the E-6, used the bucket-return

approach, but neither of these programs carried out any successful missions.

Nine of the KH-4A and KH-4B missions included ELINT subsatellites, which were launched into a higher orbit.[46][47]

The Coronaprogram was officially classified top secret until 1992. Then, on February 22, 1995, the photos taken by the

Coronasatellites, and also by two contemporary programs (Argonand KH-6Lanyard) were declassified under an Executive

Order signed by President Bill Clinton.[48]The further review by photo experts of the "obsolete broad-area film-return systems

other than Corona" mandated by President Clinton's order led to the declassification in 2002 of the photos from the KH-7 and

the KH-9 low-resolution cameras.[49]

The declassified imagery has since been used by a team of scientists from the Australian National University to locate and

explore ancient habitation sites, pottery factories, megalithic tombs, and Palaeolithic archaeological remains in northern Syria.[50][51]Similarly, scientists at Harvard have used the imagery to identify prehistoric traveling routes in Mesopotamia.[52][53]


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The "CORONA Digital Atlas of the Middle East Project (http://corona.cast.uark.edu/index.html)" hosts a large number of

KH-4B imagery where users can view and download spatially corrected images.


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

R&D Discoverer21 Jan

1959

1959-E01 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-E01)1959-E01 none

Mission Failed.

Failed to

achieve orbit

R&D Discoverer 128 Feb

1959

1959-002A (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-002A)1959 BET none

First object in

polar orbit

R&D Discoverer 213 Apr

1959


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-003A)

1959

GAMnone

First three-axisstabilized

satellite;

capsule

recovery failed

R&D Discoverer 303 Jun

1959

DISCOV3 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISCOV3)1959-F02 none

Mission failed.

Failed to

achieve orbit

9001 Discoverer 425 Jun

1959

DISC4 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC4)1959-U01 KH-1

Mission failed.

Failed to

achieve orbit.

9002 Discoverer 513 Aug

1959



1959 EPS

1KH-1

Mission failed.

Power supply

failure. No

recovery.


1959


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-006A)1959 ZET KH-1

Mission failed.

Retro rockets

malfunctioned

negating

recovery.

9004 Discoverer 7

07 Nov

1959


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-010A) 1959 KAP KH-1

Mission failed.

Failed toachieve orbit.

9005 Discoverer 820 Nov

1959


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-011A)1959 LAM KH-1

Mission failed.

Eccentric orbit

negating

recovery.

9006 Discoverer 904 Feb

1960

DiSC9 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DiSC9)1960-F01 KH-1

Mission failed.

Failed to

achieve orbit.

9007 Discoverer 10 19 Feb1960

DISC10 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC10)

1960-F02 KH-1

Mission failed.

Destroyed just

after launch

due to erratic

attitude.

9008 Discoverer 1115 Apr

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-004A)1960 DEL KH-1

Mission failed.

Attitude

control system

malfunctioned.

R&D Discoverer 1229 Jun

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC12)1960-F08 none Failed to orbit


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

R&D Discoverer 1310 Aug

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-008A)1960 THE none

Tested capsule

recovery

system; first

successful

capture.


1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-010A)1960 KAP KH-1

First successfulrecovery of

IMINT from

space. Cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

9010 Discoverer 1513 Sep

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-012A)1960 MU KH-1

Mission failed.

Attained orbit

successfully.

Capsule sank

prior to

retrieval.

9011 Discoverer 1626 Oct

1960

1960-F15 (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-F15)1960-F15 KH-2

Mission failed.

Satellite failed

to separate

from booster.

Failed to

achieve orbit.

9012 Discoverer 17 12 Nov1960

1960-015A (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-015A)

1960 OMI KH-2

Mission failed.

Obtained orbit

successfully.

Film separated

before anycamera

operation

leaving only

1.7 ft (0.52 m)

of film in

capsule.

9013 Discoverer 1807 Dec

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-018A)1960 SIG KH-2

First successful

mission

employing

KH-2 camera

system.

RM-1 Discoverer 1920 Dec

1960


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-019A)1960 TAU none

Test of Midas

missile-

detection

system

9014A Discoverer 2017 Feb

1961



1961 EPS

1KH-5 See KH-5

RM-2 Discoverer 2118 Feb

1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1961-006A)1961 ZET none

Test of

restartable

rocket engine


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

9015 Discoverer 2230 Mar

1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC22)1961-F02 KH-2

Mission failed.

Second stage

failed to obtain

orbital velocity.

9016A Discoverer 2308 Apr

1961



1961 LAM

1

KH-5 See KH-5

9018A Discoverer 2416 Jun

1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC24)1961-F05 KH-5 See KH-5

9017 Discoverer 2516 Jun

1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1961-014A)1961 XI 1 KH-2

Capsule

recovered from

water on orbit

32. Streaks

throughout

film.

9019 Discoverer 2607 Jul

1961



1961 PI KH-2

Main camera

malfunctioned

on pass 22.

9020A Discoverer 2721 Jul

1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=DISC27)1961-F07 KH-5 See KH-5


1961



Mission failed.

No orbit.

Satellite

guidance

system failed.

9022 Discoverer 30

12 Sep

1961



1961 OME

1 KH-3

Best mission to

date. Same

out-of-focuscondition as in

9023.


1961


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1961-023A)1961 PSI KH-3

First use of

KH-3 camera

system. All

frames out of

focus.

9024 Discoverer 3117 Sep

1961



1961 A

BET KH-3

Mission failed.

Power failure

and loss of

control gas onorbit 33.

Capsule was

not recovered.


1961



1961 A

GAM 1KH-3

Capsule

recovered on

orbit 18. 96%

of film out of

focus.


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes


1961



Mission failed.

Satellite failed

to separate

from Thor

booster. No

orbit.


1961



1961 A

EPS 1KH-3

Mission failed.

Improper

launch angle

resulted in

extreme orbit.

Gas valve

failed


1961



1961 A

ZET 1KH-3

All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

Grainy

emulsion

noted.

9029 Discoverer 3612 Dec

1961



1961 A

KAP 1KH-3

Best mission to

date. Launch

carried

OSCAR 1 to

orbit.

9030 Discoverer 3713 Jan

1962



Mission failed.

No orbit.

9031 Discoverer 3827 Feb

1962



1962 EPS

1KH-4

First mission of

the KH-4series. Much of

film slightly

out of focus.

9032 Discoverer 3918 Apr

1962



1962 LAM

1KH-4

Best mission to

date.

9033 FTV 112528 Apr

1962



1962 RHO

1KH-4

Mission failed.

Parachute

ejector squibs

holding

parachute

container coverfailed to fire.

No recovery.

9034A FTV 112615 May

1962



1962 SIG

1KH-5 See KH-5

9035 FTV 112830 May

1962



1962 PHI

1KH-4

Slight corona

static on film.

9036 FTV 112702 Jun

1962



1962 CHI

1KH-4

Mission failed.

During air


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

catch. Launch

carried

OSCAR 2 to

orbit.

9037 FTV 112923 Jun

1962



1962 A

BETKH-4

Corona static

occurs on some

film.

9038 FTV 115128 Jun

1962



1962 A

GAMKH-4

Severe corona

static.

9039 FTV 113021 Jul

1962



1962 A

ETAKH-4

Aborted after 6

photo passes.

Heavy corona

and radiation

fog.

9040 FTV 1131 28 Jul1962


1962 ATHE

KH-4

No filters on

slave horizon

cameras.Heavy corona

and radiation

fog.

9041 FTV 115202 Aug

1962



1962 A

KAP 1KH-4

Severe corona

and radiation

fog.

9042A FTV 113201 Sep

1962



1962 A

UPSKH-5 See KH-5

9043 FTV 113317 Sep

1962



1962 A

CHIKH-4

placed in

highlyeccentric orbit

(207 km x

670 km),

caspule called

down after one

day, film

suffered severe

radiation fog

due to SAA

crossing[54]

[55][56]

9044 FTV 115329 Aug

1962



1962 A

SIGKH-4

Erratic vehicle

attitude.

Radiation fog

minimal.

9045 FTV 115429 Sep

1962



1962 B

BETKH-4

First use of

stellar camera

9046A FTV 113409 Oct

1962



1962 B

EPSKH-5 See KH-5


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

9047 FTV 113605 Nov

1962



1962 B

OMIKH-4

Camera door

malfunctioned

9048 FTV 113524 Nov

1962



1962 B

RHOKH-4

Some film

exposed

through base.

9049 FTV 115504 Dec

1962



1962 B

SIGKH-4

Mission failed.During air

catch chute

tore

9050 FTV 115614 Dec

1962



1962 B

PHIKH-4

Best mission to

date.

9051 OPS 004807 Jan

1963


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1963-002A)1963-002A KH-4

Erratic vehicle

attitude. Frame

ephemeris not

created.

9052 OPS 058328 Feb

1963



Mission failed.

Destroyed by

range safety

officer

9053 OPS 072001 Apr

1963



Best imagery

to date.

9054 OPS 095412 Jun

1963



Some imagery

seriously

affected by

corona.

9055A OPS 100826 Apr

1963


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1963-F07)1963-F07 KH-5 See KH-5

9056 OPS 099926 Jun

1963



Experimental

camera carried.

Film affected

by light leaks.

9057 OPS 126619 Jul

1963



Best mission to

date.

9058A OPS 156129 Aug

1963


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1963-035A)1963-035A KH-5 See KH-5

9059A OPS 243729 Oct

1963



9060 OPS 226809 Nov

1963



Mission failed.

No orbit.

9061 OPS 226027 Nov

1963



Mission failed.

Return capsule

separated from

satellite but

remained in

orbit.


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

9062 OPS 138821 Dec

1963



Corona static

fogged much

of film.

9065A OPS 273921 Aug

1964



9066A OPS 3236 13 Jun1964


1964-030A KH-5 See KH-5

1001 OPS 141924 Aug

1963


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1963-034A)1963-034A KH-4A

First mission of

KH-4A. Some

film was

fogged. Two

buckets but

1001-2 was

never

recovered.

1002 OPS 1353

23 Sep

1963


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1963-037A) 1963-037A KH-4A

Severe light

leaks

1003 OPS 346724 Mar

1964


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1964-F04)1964-F04 KH-4A

Mission failed.

Guidance

system failed.

No orbit.

1004 OPS 344415 Feb

1964



Main cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

Minor

degradations

due to static

and light leaks.

1005 OPS 292127 Apr

1964



Mission failed.

Recovery

vehicle

impacted in

Venezuela.

1006 OPS 348304 Jun

1964



Highest quality

imagery

attained to date

from the KH-4

system.

1007 OPS 375419 Jun

1964



Out-of-focus

area on some

film.

1008 OPS 349110 Jun

1964



Cameras

operated

satisfactorily

1009 OPS 304205 Aug

1964



Cameras

operated

successfully.


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

1010 OPS 349714 Sep

1964



Small out of

focus areas on

both cameras at

random times

throughout the

mission.

1011 OPS 333305 Oct

1964



Primary mode

of recovery

failed on

second portion

of the mission

(1011-2).

Small out of

focus areas

present at

random on

both cameras.

1012 OPS 355917 Oct

1964



Vehicle attitude

became erratic

on the second

portion of the

mission

necessitating

an early

recovery.

1013 OPS 543402 Nov

1964



Program

anomaly

occurred

immediatelyafter launch

when both

cameras

operated for

417 frames.

Main cameras

ceased

operation on

rev 52D of first

portion of

missionnegating

second portion.

About 65% of

aft camera film

is out of focus.

1014 OPS 336018 Nov

1964



Cameras

operated

successfully.


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

1015 OPS 3358 19 Dec1964


1964-085A KH-4A

Discrepancies

in planned and

actual coverage

due to

telemetry

problems

during the first6 revolutions.

Small

out-of-focus

areas on film

from aft

camera.

1016 OPS 392815 Jan

1965



Smearing of

highly

reflective

images due to

reflectionswithin camera.

1017 OPS 478225 Feb

1965



Capping

shutter

malfunction

occurred

during last 5

passes of

mission.

1018 OPS 480325 Mar

1965



Cameras

operated

successfully.First KH-4A

reconnaissance

system to be

launched into a

retrograde

orbit.

1019 OPS 502329 Apr

1965



Cameras

operated

successfully.

Malfunction in

recovery modeon 1019-2

negated

recovery.

1020 OPS 842509 Jun

1965



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

Erratic attitude

caused an early

recovery after


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

the second day

of 1020-2.

1021 OPS 843118 May

1965



Aft camera

ceased

operation on

pass 102.

1022 OPS 554319 Jun

1965



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1023 OPS 720817 Aug

1965



Program

anomaly

caused the fore

camera to

cease operation

during

revolutions

103-132.

1024 OPS 722122 Sep

1965



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

Cameras not

operated on

passes

88D-93D.

1025 OPS 532505 Oct

1965



Main cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1026 OPS 215528 Oct

1965



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1027 OPS 724909 Dec

1965



Erratic attitude

necessitated

recovery after

two days of

operation. All

cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1028 OPS 463924 Dec

1965



Cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1029 OPS 729102 Feb

1966



Both

panoramic

cameras were

operational

throughout.


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

1030 OPS 348809 Mar

1966



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1031 OPS 161207 Apr

1966



The aft-looking

camera

malfunctionedafter the

recovery of

bucket 1. No

material was

received in

bucket 2

(1031-2).

1032 OPS 15083 May

1966

1966-F05A (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1966-F05A)1966-F05 KH-4A

Mission failed.

Vehicle failed

to achieve

orbit.

1033 OPS 177824 May

1966



The stellar

camera shutter

of bucket 2

remained open

for

approximately

200 frames.

1034OPS 1599

21 Jun

1966


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1966-055A) 1966-055A KH-4A

Failure of

velocity

altitude

programmerproduced poor

imagery after

revolution 5.

1035 OPS 170320 Sep

1966



All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

First mission

flown with pan

geometry

modification.

1036 OPS 154509 Aug

1966



All camerasoperated

satisfactorily.

1037 OPS 186608 Nov

1966



Second pan

geometry

mission.

Higher than

normal base

plus fog

encountered on

both main


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

camera records.

1038 OPS 166414 Jan

1967



Fair image

quality.

1039 OPS 475022 Feb

1967



Normal KH-4

mission. Light

from horizoncamera on both

main camera

records during

1039-1.

1040 OPS 477930 Mar

1967



Satellite flown

nose first.

1041 OPS 46969 May

1967



Due to the

failure of the

booster cut-off

switch, the

satellite wentinto a highly

eccentric orbit.

There was

significant

image

degradation.

1042 OPS 355916 Jun

1967



Small

out-of-focus

area in forward

camera of

1042-1.

1043 OPS 482707 Aug

1967



Forward

camera film

came out of the

rails on pass

230D. Film

degraded past

this point.

1044 OPS 056202 Nov

1967



All cameras

operated fine.

1045 OPS 2243 24 Jan1968


1968-008A KH-4A

All cameras

operated

satisfactorily.

1046 OPS 484914 Mar

1968



Image quality

good for

1046-1 and fair

for 1046-2.

1047 OPS 534320 Jun

1968



Out-of-focus

imagery is

present on both

main camera


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

records.

1048 OPS 016518 Sep

1968



Film in the

forward

camera

separated and

camera failed

on mission

1048-2

1049 OPS 474012 Dec

1968


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1968-112A)1968-112A KH-4A Degraded film

1050 OPS 372219 Mar

1969



Due to

abnormal

rotational rates

after revolution

22

1051 OPS 11012 May

1969



Imagery of

both pancamera records

is soft and

lacks crispness

and edge

sharpness.

1052 OPS 353122 Sep

1969



Last of the

KH-4A

missions

1101 OPS 5089

15 Sep

1967


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1967-087A) 1967-087A KH-4B

First mission of

the KH-4B

series. Best

film to date.

1102 OPS 100109 Dec

1967


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1967-122A)1967-122A KH-4B

Noticeable

image smear

for forward

camera

1103 OPS 14191 May

1968


/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1968-039A)1968-039B KH-4B

Out-of-focus

imagery is

present on both

main camera

records.

1104 OPS 595507 Aug

1968



Best imagery

to date on any

KH-4 systems.

Bicolor and

color infrared

experiments

were

conducted on

this mission,

including


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

SO-180 IR

camouflage

detection

film.[57]

1105 OPS 131503 Nov

1968



Image quality

is variable anddisplays areas

of soft focus

and image

smear.

1106 OPS 389005 Feb

1969



The best image

quality to date.

1107 OPS 365424 Jul

1969



Forward

camera failed

on pass 1 and

remained

inoperativethroughout the

rest of the

mission.

1108 OPS 661704 Dec

1969



Cameras

operated

satisfactorily

and the mission

carried 811 ft

(247 m) of

aerial color

film added tothe end of the

film supply.

1109 OPS 044004 Mar

1970



Cameras

operated

satisfactorily

but the overall

image quality

of both the

forward and aft

records is

variable.

1110 OPS 472020 May

1970



The overall

image quality

is less than that

provided by

recent missions

and 2

1111 OPS 432423 Jun

1970



The overall

image quality

is good.


25 7/29/2014


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Mission

No.

Cover

Name

Launch

Date NSSDC ID No.

Alt.

Name Camera Notes

1112 OPS 499218 Nov

1970



The forward

camera failed

on pass 104

and remained

inoperative

throughout the

rest of themission.

1113 OPS 329717 Feb

1971

1971-F01A (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1971-F01A)1971-F01 KH-4B

Mission failed

due to failure

of Thor

booster.

Destroyed

shortly after

launch.

1114 OPS 530024 Mar

1971



The overall

image quality

is good and

comparable to

the best of past

missions.

On-board

program failed

after pass 235

1115 OPS 545410 Sep

1971



Overall image

quality is good.

1116 OPS 5640 19 Apr1972 1972-032A (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1972-032A) 1972-032A KH-4B

Very successful

mission andimage quality

was good.

1117 OPS 637125 May

1972



Last KH-4B

mission. Very

successful

mission, failure

to deploy one

solar panel and

leak in Agena

gas system

shortened

mission from

19 to 6 days[56]


25 7/29/2014


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AF Sat Ctrl Facility during recovery ops

CORONA re-entry parameters

"A Point in Time: The CORONA Story" - a documentmovie about the first in history project of spy satellites.

Created by the CIA and NRO in 1995 to commemorate

declassification of CORONA project.

KH-5-ARGON, KH-6-LANYARD, KH-7, KH-8-GAMBIT

SAMOS

KH-9 Hexagon "Big Bird"

KH-10-DORIAN or Manned Orbital Laboratory

KH-11, KH-12, KH-13.

Satellite imagery

Cold War

Zenit

The 1963 thriller novelIce Station Zebraand its 1968 film adaptation were inspired, in part, by news accounts from April 17,


25 7/29/2014


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1959, about a missing experimental Corona satellite capsule (Discoverer II) that inadvertently landed near Spitzbergen on

April 13. While Soviet agents may have recovered the vehicle,[38][58]it is more likely that the capsule landed in water and

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^Yenne, p. 63; Jensen, p. 81.5.

^ abcdefgDrell, "Physics and U.S. National Security," p.

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^Brown, Stewart F. "America's First Eyes in Space." Popular

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^ abLewis, p. 93.13.

^Monmonier, p. 24.14.

^Day, Logsdon, and Latell, p. 192-196.15.

^ abRuffner, p. 37.16.

^ abKramer, p. 354.17.

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^ abChun, p. 75.20.


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/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-008A). NASA NSSDC.

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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Corona_(satellite)&oldid=618059417"

Categories: 1960 in spaceflight 1961 in spaceflight 1962 in spaceflight 1971 in spaceflight 1972 in spaceflight

Artificial satellites formerly orbiting Earth Reconnaissance satellites of the United States National Reconnaissance Office

Black projects Military space program of the United States Lockheed Corporation

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