Discoverer 32

Discoverer 32, also known as Corona 9025, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1]

Discoverer 32
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
OperatorUS Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation1961 Alpha Gamma 1
COSPAR ID1961-027A
SATCAT no.00189
Mission duration1 day
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeKH-3 Corona'''
BusAgena-B
ManufacturerLockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date13 October 1961, 19:22 (1961-10-13UTC19:22Z) UTC
RocketThor DM-21 Agena-B 328
Launch siteVandenberg LC-75-3-4
End of mission
Decay date13 November 1961 (1961-11-14)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude233 kilometers (145 mi)
Apogee altitude350 kilometers (220 mi)
Inclination81.6 degrees
Period90.3 minutes
 
The launch of Discoverer 32

The launch of Discoverer 32 occurred at 19:22 UTC on 13 October 1961. 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 1961 Alpha Gamma 1.

Discoverer 32 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 233 kilometres (145 mi), an apogee of 350 kilometres (220 mi), 81.6 degrees of inclination, and a period of 90.3 minutes.[3] The satellite 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 recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, which was deorbited one day after launch. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 32 was SRV-555. Following the return of its images, Discoverer 32 remained in orbit until it decayed on 13 November 1961.[3] Most of the images it produced were found to have been out of focus.[6]

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. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  4. 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.
  6. Lindborg, Christina; Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-3 Corona". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 30 June 2010.


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