Template:Infobox spaceflight
Discoverer 23, also known as Corona 9016A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1] It was the second KH-5 mission to be launched, and the second to end in failure.
Launch[]
The launch of Discoverer 23 occurred at 19:21 UTC on 8 April 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from launch pad 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Lambda 1.
Operation[]
Discoverer 23 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 294 kilometres (Template:Convert/round mi), an apogee of 624 kilometres (Template:Convert/round mi), 82.3 degrees of inclination, and a period of 93.77 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (Template:Convert/round lb),[4] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (Template:Convert/round in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (Template:Convert/round ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 127-millimeter (Template:Convert/LoffAonSon) film, and ejected aboard a Satellite Return Vehicle, SRV-521. Due to a problem with Discoverer 23's attitude control system, the SRV ended up boosting itself into a higher orbit rather than deorbiting.[4] Discoverer 23 decayed from orbit on 16 April 1962, followed by the SRV on 23 May 1962.[3][4]
References[]
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kh-5_ab.htm. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kh5.htm. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/programs/corona.html. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
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