KH-4 26 (Corona 75) & Pundit 2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

21:45:00

Saturday December 21, 1963

Mission Details

KH-4 26 (Corona 75)

The KH-4, or Keyhole-4, represented the fourth iteration within the Corona program. This version introduced stereoscopic imaging capabilities with the Corona-M or Mural camera, consisting of two C''' (Corona triple-prime) cameras mounted with a 30-degree separation angle for forward and rear-looking perspectives. Additionally, a 4 cm index camera was included for specific imaging tasks. The Mural camera offered a ground resolution of 7.5 meters. Operating atop the Agena-D upper stage, the satellite facilitated attitude control during its mission, with film return managed by a single General Electric return vehicle (SRV). Upon mission completion, the film return capsule utilized its own solid-fuel retro motor for deorbiting, enabling mid-air recovery by specially equipped aircraft.

Pundit 2

The Pundit satellites were part of a series of so called Program 11 or P-11 "Subsatellite Ferrets", low orbit ELINT/SIGINT satellites to pinpoint and characterize different Radar emitters in the Soviet Union and Warsaw pact states.

1 Payload

108 kilograms

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-2W

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

13 days 1 hour

Stats

Thor-Agena


82nd

Mission

20th

Mission of 1963

1963


69th

Orbital launch attempt