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 type	Optical reconnaissance
Operator	US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation	1961 Alpha Gamma 1
COSPAR ID	1961-027A
SATCAT no.	00189
Mission duration	1 day
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	13 October 1961, 19:22 (1961-10-13UTC19:22Z) UTC
Rocket	Thor DM-21 Agena-B 328
Launch site	Vandenberg LC-75-3-4
End of mission
Decay date	13 November 1961 (1961-11-14)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	233 kilometers (145 mi)
Apogee altitude	350 kilometers (220 mi)
Inclination	81.6 degrees
Period	90.3 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]