NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

KH-7 24 (Gambit-1 24) & OPS 3179

Launch Time
Wed Jan 19, 1966 20:03 UTC

Rocket

Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
General Dynamics
Status: Retired
Payload to LEO: 1,825 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

KH-7 24 (Gambit-1 24)

KH-7 (Keyhole 7) managed by NRO's Program A and operated this US Air Force system boasted long focal length cameras capable of identifying and measuring properties of targets such as missiles and aircraft, surpassing the resolution of the CORONA system. The spacecraft, a 3-axis-stabilized satellite separated from the Agena-D, housed the payload, camera system, and reentry vehicle (SRV), known as the OCV (Orbital Control Vehicle), built by General Electric. The KH-7 camera featured a 112 cm diameter primary mirror and achieved ground resolutions ranging from 0.61 m to 0.91 m, utilizing strip exposure techniques for capturing images with a swath width of 22 km and strip lengths of up to 741 km from its 167-kilometer orbit.

Low Earth Orbit

OPS 3179

These payloads are non disclosed payloads mounted as a piggy-back payload on the aft racks of Agena-D stages.

Location

SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1966

3rd orbital launch attempt

Atlas-Agena

63rd mission
1st mission of 1966
47th successful mission
2nd consecutive successful mission