FTV-1126

FTV-1126
Mission typeOptical reconnaissance
OperatorUS Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation1962 Sigma 1
COSPAR ID1962-018A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.00292Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeKH-5 Argon
BusAgena-B
ManufacturerLockheed
Launch mass1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date15 May 1962, 19:36 (1962-05-15UTC19:36Z) UTC
RocketThor DM-21 Agena-B 334
Launch siteVandenberg LC-75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date26 November 1963 (1963-11-27)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude284 kilometers (176 mi)
Apogee altitude632 kilometers (393 mi)
Inclination82.3 degrees
Period93.75 minutes
The launch of FTV-1126

FTV-1126, also known as Corona 9034A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1] It was also unofficially known as Discoverer 41, a continuation of the designation sequence used for previous US reconnaissance satellites, which had officially been discontinued after Discoverer 38. It was the first KH-5 satellite to complete its mission successfully.[2]

The launch of FTV-1126 occurred at 19:36 UTC on 15 May 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[3] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1962 Sigma 1.

FTV-1126 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 284 kilometres (176 mi), an apogee of 632 kilometres (393 mi), 82.3 degrees of inclination, and a period of 93.75 minutes.[4] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb),[2] and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 127-millimeter (5.0 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, before the satellite ceased operations. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by FTV-1126 was 582. Once its images had been returned, the inactive FTV-1126 decayed from orbit on 26 November 1963.[4]

References

  1. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  3. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.


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