Status
Success
KH-6 3 (Corona 68)
Launch Time
Wed Jul 31, 1963 00:00 UTC
Wed Jul 31, 1963 00:00 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
KH-6 3 (Corona 68)
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.
Location
SLC-2W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Stats
1963
41st orbital launch attempt
Thor-Agena
75th mission
13th mission of 1963
56th successful mission
7th consecutive successful mission