Discoverer 37
Encyclopedia
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 around an Agena-B
.
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 Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base
, however it failed to achieve orbit.
Discoverer 37 was intended to be operated in a low Earth orbit
. It had a mass of 1150 kilograms (2,535.3 lb), 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 (24.9 ft). Images were to have been recorded onto 70 millimetres (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle at the end of the mission. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle which was to have been used by Discoverer 37 was SRV-571.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1962. It was the last KH-3 Corona
Corona (satellite)
The Corona program 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...
satellite, which was based around an Agena-B
RM-81 Agena
The RM-81 Agena was an American rocket upper stage and satellite support bus which was developed by Lockheed initially for the canceled WS-117L reconnaissance satellite program...
.
The launch of Discoverer 37 occurred at 21:41 UTC on 13 January 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B
Thor-Agena
Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles. The rockets used Thor first stages and Agena second stages. They are thus cousins of the more famous Thor-Deltas, which founded the Delta rocket family. The first attempted launch of a Thor-Agena was in January 1959...
rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, however it failed to achieve orbit.
Discoverer 37 was intended to be operated in a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
. It had a mass of 1150 kilograms (2,535.3 lb), and was equipped with a panoramic camera with a focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
of 61 centimetres (24 in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 metres (24.9 ft). Images were to have been recorded onto 70 millimetres (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle at the end of the mission. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle which was to have been used by Discoverer 37 was SRV-571.