Discoverer 16

Discoverer 16, also known as Corona 9011, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure on 26 October 1960. It was the first of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.^[1]

Thor Agena B with Discoverer 16

Discoverer 16

Mission type	Optical reconnaissance
Operator	US Air Force/NRO
Mission duration	Failed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Corona KH-2
Bus	Agena-B
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Launch mass	1,091 kilograms (2,405 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	26 October 1960, 20:26 (1960-10-26UTC20:26Z) UTC
Rocket	Thor DM-21 Agena-B 253
Launch site	Vandenberg LC-75-3-4
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Epoch	Planned
Discoverer ← Discoverer 15 Discoverer 17 → Corona KH-2 Corona 9012 →

The launch of Discoverer 16 occurred at 20:26 UTC on 26 October 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.^[2]The launch was close to nominal through Thor phase; Thor VECO occurred almost simultaneous with MECO and the planned 16 second vernier solo phase did not occur. Agena staging did not occur and the Agena, still attached to the spent Thor, fell into the Pacific. The cause of the mishap was traced to a momentary power interruption at launch that reset a timer on the Agena, consequently no programmer functions were entered.^[3][4]

Discoverer 16 was intended to have been operated in a low Earth orbit. It had a mass of 1,091 kilograms (2,405 lb),^[5] 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).^[4] It was to have recorded images onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, which would have been returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle aboard Discoverer 16 was SRV-506.^[5]