NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Failure

KH-6 1 (Corona 61) & Hitchhiker 1

Launch Time
Mon Mar 18, 1963 21:13 UTC

Rocket

Thor SLV2A Agena-D
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 1,571 kN
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 3
Rocket Height: 31.0 m

Mission Details

KH-6 1 (Corona 61)

KH-6 (Keyhole 6, codenamed Lanyard) was a part of the Corona program and aimed to capture higher resolution imagery. Equipped with a modified Samos E-5 camera built by Kodak, the KH-6 camera could tilt between fore and aft to acquire stereo coverage of the same land area during a photographic pass. With a ground resolution of approximately 1.8 meters, the KH-6 sought to improve image quality significantly. These satellites were designed for film capsule deorbiting from space, with mid-air recovery facilitated by specially equipped aircraft.

Hitchhiker 1

The Hitchhiker satellites were prototype satellites in the P-11 program, which served scientific purposes. Later P-11 satellites were built as classified SIGINT subsatellites.

Location

SLC-1W (75-3-4), Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1963

8th orbital launch attempt

Thor-Agena

66th mission
4th mission of 1963
17th failed mission