KH-3
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: Manufacturer Image
American military surveillance satellite. Early US reconnaissance satellite. Carried one 'C-Double Prime' panoramic camera, with a focal length of 61 cm and a ground resolution of 7.6 m. Reconnaissance, photo (film return type) satellite built by Lockheed for USAF, USA. Launched 1961 - 1962.
More at: KH-3.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Engines
- Star 12
- Launch Vehicles
- Thor, Delta, Thor Agena B
- Launch Sites
- Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC2E, Vandenberg SLC1W, Vandenberg SLC1E
Photo Gallery
Kh-3
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Chronology
9 events
1961 August 30
20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 29 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9023 / Agena B 1112. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-09-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 181 . COSPAR: 1961-Psi-1. Apogee: 542 km (336 mi). Perigee: 152 km (94 mi). Inclination: 82.10 deg. Period: 91.50 min. KH-3; film capsule recovered 2.1 days later. First use of KH-3 camera system. All frames out of focus..
1961 September 12
19:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 30 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9022 / Agena B 1113. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-12-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 182 . COSPAR: 1961-Omega-1. Apogee: 557 km (346 mi). Perigee: 219 km (136 mi). Inclination: 82.50 deg. Period: 92.30 min. KH-3; film capsule recovered 2.1 days later. Best mission to date. Same out-of-focus condition as in 9023..
1961 September 17
21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 31 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9024 / Agena B 1114. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-10-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 186 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Beta-1. Apogee: 403 km (250 mi). Perigee: 231 km (143 mi). Inclination: 82.60 deg. Period: 90.80 min. KH-3; film capsule recovery failed. Mission failed. Power failure and loss of control gas on orbit 33..
1961 October 13
19:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 32 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9025 / Agena B 1115. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-11-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 189 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Gamma-1. Apogee: 391 km (242 mi). Perigee: 233 km (144 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 90.70 min. The 100th successful firing of a Thor placed Discoverer XXXII in orbit. KH-3; film capsule recovered 1.1 days later. Capsule recovered on orbit 18. 96% of film out of focus..
1961 October 23
19:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.- Discoverer 33 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9026. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-10-23 . KH-3; Mission failed..
- SRV 513 - . Mass: 1,250 kg (2,750 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3.
1961 November 5
20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 34 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9027 / Agena B 1117. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1962-12-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 197 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Epsilon-1. Apogee: 859 km (533 mi). Perigee: 231 km (143 mi). Inclination: 82.40 deg. Period: 95.60 min. KH-3; film capsule recovery not attempted. Mission failed. Improper launch angle resulted in extreme orbit..
- SRV 553 - . Mass: 1,250 kg (2,750 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. COSPAR: 1961-A-Epsilon-x.
1961 November 15
21:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 35 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9028 / Agena B 1118. Mass: 2,100 kg (4,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1961-12-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 201 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Zeta-1. Apogee: 278 km (172 mi). Perigee: 238 km (147 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 89.70 min. KH-3; film capsule recovered 1.1 days later. All cameras operated satisfactorily. Grainy emulsion noted..
1961 December 12
20:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 36 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9029 / Agena B 1119. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1962-03-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 213 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Kappa-1. Apogee: 173 km (107 mi). Perigee: 131 km (81 mi). Inclination: 89.50 deg. Period: 87.50 min. KH-3; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Best mission to date..
1962 January 13
21:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.- Discoverer 37 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9030. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1962-01-13 . KH-3. Mission failed. Last attempted flight of KH-3 series..