Template:Infobox spaceflight Discoverer 25, also known as Corona 9017, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-2 Corona' satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1]
The launch of Discoverer 25 occurred at 23:02 UTC on 16 June 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-1-1 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Xi 1.
Discoverer 25 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 223 kilometres (Template:Convert/round mi), an apogee of 361 kilometres (Template:Convert/round mi), 82.1 degrees of inclination, and a period of 90.4 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (Template:Convert/round lb),[4] and was equipped with a panoramic camera with a focal length of 61 centimetres (Template:Convert/round in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 metres (Template:Convert/round ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 70-millimeter (Template:Convert/LoffAonSon) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle two days after launch. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by Discoverer 25 was SRV-510. Once its images had been returned, Discoverer 25's mission was complete, and it remained in orbit until it decayed on 12 July 1961.[3]
The Satellite Recovery Vehicle was designed to be recovered in mid-air by a Fairchild C-119J Flying Boxcar aircraft. As SRV-510 descended, the C-119J was unable to capture it, and the capsule had to be recovered at sea after it landed. The film it returned was affected by streaks across images.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-2 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kh-2.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wade, Mark. "KH-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kh2.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/programs/corona.html. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
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