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]
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Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
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Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
COSPAR ID | ![]() |
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 Corona KH-2 |
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 Agena failed to separate from the Thor first stage, and as a result the satellite failed to achieve orbit.[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]
Discoverer satellites | |
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Key Hole satellites | |||||||
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KH-1 Corona | |||||||
KH-2 Corona' | |||||||
KH-3 Corona''' | |||||||
KH-4 Corona-M |
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KH-5 Argon |
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KH-6 Lanyard |
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KH-7 Gambit |
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KH-8 Gambit |
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KH-9 Hexagon |
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KH-10 Dorian |
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KH-11 Crystal | |||||||
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← 1959 · Orbital launches in 1960 · 1961 → | |
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Discoverer 9 | Discoverer 10 | Midas 1 | Pioneer 5 | S-46 | TIROS-1 | Transit 1B · Solrad mass simulator | Discoverer 11 | Luna E-3 No.1 | Luna E-3 No.2 | Echo 1 | Korabl-Sputnik 1 | Midas 2 | Transit 2A · SOLRAD 1 | Discoverer 12 | Vostok-1K No.1 | Discoverer 13 | Echo 1A | Courier 1A | Discoverer 14 | Korabl-Sputnik 2 | Discoverer 15 | Pioneer P-30 | Courier 1B | Mars 1M No.1 | Samos 1 | Mars 1M No.2 | Discoverer 16 | Explorer 8 | Discoverer 17 | TIROS-2 | Transit 3A · SOLRAD 2 | Korabl-Sputnik 3 | Explorer S-56 | Discoverer 18 | Pioneer P-31 | Discoverer 19 | Vostok-1K No.4 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |
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