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]
Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
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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 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]
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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← 1960 · Orbital launches in 1961 · 1962 → | |
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Samos 2 | Tyazhely Sputnik | Venera 1 | Explorer 9 | Discoverer 20 | Discoverer 21 | Transit 3B · LOFTI-1 | S-45 | Korabl-Sputnik 4 | Korabl-Sputnik 5 | Explorer 10 | Discoverer 22 | Discoverer 23 | Vostok 1 | Mercury-Atlas 3 | Explorer 11 | S-45A | Discoverer 24 | Discoverer 25 | Transit 4A · SOLRAD 3 · Injun 1 | S-55 | Discoverer 26 | TIROS-3 | Midas 3 | Discoverer 27 | Discoverer 28 | Vostok 2 | Explorer 12 | Ranger 1 | Explorer 13 | Discoverer 29 | Samos 3 | Discoverer 30 | Mercury-Atlas 4 | Discoverer 31 | Discoverer 32 | Midas 4 · Westford 1 | Discoverer 33 | DS-1 No.1 | Mercury-Scout 1 | Discoverer 34 | Discoverer 35 | Transit 4B · TRAAC | Ranger 2 | Samos 4 | Mercury-Atlas 5 | Zenit-2 No.1 | Discoverer 36 · OSCAR 1 | DS-1 No.2 | FTV-2203 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |
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