Discoverer 18
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1960 Sigma 1 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-2 Corona' |
| Bus | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Launch mass | 1,240 kilograms (2,730 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 7 December 1960, 20:20:58 UTC |
| Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 296 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 2 April 1961 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 272 kilometers (169 mi) |
| Apogee | 535 kilometers (332 mi) |
| Inclination | 81.4 degrees |
| Period | 92.6 minutes |
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Discoverer 18, also known as Corona 9013, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a KH-2 Corona satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1]
The launch of Discoverer 18 occurred at 20:20:58 UTC on 7 December 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Sigma 1.
Discoverer 18 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 272 kilometres (169 mi), an apogee of 535 kilometres (332 mi), 81.4 degrees of inclination, and a period of 92.6 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,240 kilograms (2,730 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 recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, which was recovered three days after the launch. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 18 was SRV-508. Following the return of its images, Discoverer 18 remained in orbit until it decayed on 2 April 1961.[3] It was the first KH-2 satellite to complete its mission successfully.[6]
References
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-2 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "KH-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-2 Corona". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 26 June 2010.