KH-9 20 (Hexagon 20) & Pearl Ruby

Launch Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

18:45:00

Friday April 18, 1986

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Solid rocket motor exploded at T+8 seconds due to booster segment joint failure.

KH-9 20 (Hexagon 20)

Wiki

The KH-9, also known as Hexagon or "Big Bird," was a large reconnaissance satellite designed to replace the earlier KH-4B Corona satellites. Unlike its predecessors, it utilized a new maneuverable bus called SCS (Satellite Control Section) and featured four return capsules for extended operational lifespan. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the Mk.8 return capsules facilitated mid-air recovery of film capsules, similar to Corona satellites. The camera system, built by Perkin-Elmer, comprised two panoramic cameras for area surveillance, capturing images at altitudes ranging from 90 to 200 miles. These cameras utilized an f/3.0 folded Wright Camera optical layout with a 1.5 m focal length and achieved ground resolutions better than 0.61 m, scanning areas up to 120° wide.

Polar Orbit

1 Payload

13,300 kilograms

Pearl Ruby

Pearl Ruby was a piggy-back experiment flown on the last KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellite. Likely Pearl Ruby was to test advanced Infra-red sensors on orbit as part of DARPA's Ruby series of infrared experiments.

Rocket

Retired
Titan 34D

Active 1982 to 1989


Rocket

Height: 50m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 14,515 kg

GTO: 5,000 kg

Liftoff Thrust

11,279 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 3.05m

Stages

3

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

SLC-4E

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

2 days 21 hours

Stats

Titan III


145th

Mission

1st

Mission of 1986

1986


33rd

Orbital launch attempt