Discoverer 29

Discoverer 29, also known as Corona 9023, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the first KH-3 Corona satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket.^[1]

Discoverer 29

Mission type	Optical reconnaissance
Operator	US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation	1961 Psi 1
COSPAR ID	1961-023A
SATCAT no.	00181
Mission duration	2 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	KH-3 Corona'''
Bus	Agena-B
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Launch mass	1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	30 August 1961, 20:00 (1961-08-30UTC20Z) UTC
Rocket	Thor DM-21 Agena-B 323
Launch site	Vandenberg LC-75-3-4
End of mission
Decay date	9 September 1961 (1961-09-10)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	138 kilometers (86 mi)
Apogee altitude	511 kilometers (318 mi)
Inclination	82 degrees
Period	91 minutes

The launch of Discoverer 29

The launch of Discoverer 29 occurred at 20:00 UTC on 30 August 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 Psi 1.

Discoverer 29 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 138 kilometres (86 mi), an apogee of 511 kilometres (318 mi), 82 degrees of inclination, and a period of 91 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 two days after launch, but all of the images returned were found to be out of focus.^[4] The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 29 was SRV-554.^[2] Once its images had been returned, Discoverer 29 remained in orbit until it decayed on 9 September 1961.^[3]