Discoverer 37

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Discoverer 37
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
OperatorUS Air Force/NRO
Mission durationFailed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeKH-3 Corona‴
BusAgena-B
ManufacturerLockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date13 January 1962, 21:41 (1962-01-13UTC21:41Z) UTC
RocketThor DM-21 Agena-B 327
Launch siteVandenberg
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
EpochPlanned
 
The launch of Discoverer 37

Discoverer 37, also known as Corona 9030, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1962. It was the last KH-3 Corona‴ satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket.[1]

The launch of Discoverer 37 occurred at 21:41 UTC on 13 January 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from at the Vandenberg Air Force Base;[2] however, it failed to achieve orbit.[3]

Discoverer 37 was intended to be operated in a low Earth orbit. It 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 to have been recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a at the end of the mission. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle which was to have been used by Discoverer 37 was SRV-571.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-3 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  3. ^ Lindborg, Christina; Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-3 Corona". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "KH-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2010.


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