KH-6 2 (Corona 64)

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

22:21:00

Saturday May 18, 1963

Mission Details

KH-6 2 (Corona 64)

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.

Rocket

Retired
Thor SLV2A Agena-D

Active 1963 to 1968


Rocket

Height: 31m

Liftoff Thrust

1,571 Kilonewtons

Stages

2

Strap-ons

3

Launch Site

SLC-1E (75-3-5)

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

27 days 18 hours

Stats

Thor-Agena


69th

Mission

7th

Mission of 1963

1963


23rd

Orbital launch attempt