FTV-1126

Last updated
FTV-1126
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
Operator US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation1962 Sigma 1
COSPAR ID 1962-018A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 00292 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type KH-5 Argon
Bus Agena-B
Manufacturer Lockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date15 May 1962, 19:36 (1962-05-15UTC19:36Z) UTC
Rocket Thor DM-21 Agena-B 334
Launch site Vandenberg LC-75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date26 November 1963 (1963-11-27)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 284 kilometers (176 mi)
Apogee altitude 632 kilometers (393 mi)
Inclination 82.3 degrees
Period 93.75 minutes
 
The launch of FTV-1126 Thor Agena B with Discoverer 41 (May 15, 1962).jpg
The launch of FTV-1126

FTV-1126, also known as Corona 9034A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. [1] It was also unofficially known as Discoverer 41, a continuation of the designation sequence used for previous US reconnaissance satellites, which had officially been discontinued after Discoverer 38. It was the first KH-5 satellite to complete its mission successfully. [2]

The launch of FTV-1126 occurred at 19:36 UTC on 15 May 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. [3] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1962 Sigma 1.

FTV-1126 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 284 kilometres (176 mi), an apogee of 632 kilometres (393 mi), 82.3 degrees of inclination, and a period of 93.75 minutes. [4] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb), [2] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft). [5] Images were recorded onto 127-millimeter (5.0 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, before the satellite ceased operations. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by FTV-1126 was 582. Once its images had been returned, the inactive FTV-1126 decayed from orbit on 26 November 1963. [4]

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References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.