KH-5 ARGON was a series of reconnaissance satellites produced by the United States from February 1961 to August 1964. The KH-5 operated similarly to the CORONA series of satellites, as it ejected a canister of photographic film. At least 12 missions were attempted, but at least 7 resulted in failure. The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed. Launches used Thor-Agena launch vehicles flying from Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the payload being integrated into the Agena.
Different versions of the satellite varied in mass from 1,110 to 1,500 kg (2,450 to 3,310 lb). At least two missions deployed ELINT subsatellites. Ground resolution for the satellite was 140 m (460 ft), with a swath of 556 km (345 mi). The onboard camera had a focal length of 76 mm. The purpose of the system, which produced relatively low-resolution images compared to other spy satellites, was to provide imagery for cartography purposes. This was one of the tasks that had originally been planned for the SAMOS series of satellites equipped with the (quickly cancelled) E-4 cameras. Each satellite took photographs for less than a week before returning its film.
The satellite was in use during the same period as the KH-2 to KH-4A CORONA and the KH-6 LANYARD satellites. Later satellites were the KH-4B and KH-7 GAMBIT. Images from three of the successful missions returned the first images of Antarctica from space.[1]
Satellitesedit
Discoverer 20 (KH-5 9014A), was a USAF photographic reconnaissance satellite under the supervision of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Discoverer 20 was the first KH-5 ARGON satellite to be launched. The launch occurred at 20:24:00 GMT on 17 February 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B launch vehicle was used, flying from LC 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. It was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Epsilon 1. Discoverer 20 was operated in an Earth orbit, with a perigee of 283 km (176 mi), an apogee of 770 km (480 mi), 80.91° of inclination, and a period of 95.81 minutes. The satellite was equipped with a camera with a focal length of 76 mm, which had a resolution of 140 m (460 ft). Images were recorded onto 127 mm film, and were to have been returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle (SRV) before the satellite ceased operations. The satellite weighed 1,110 kg (2,450 lb). Recovery of the capsule was not attempted due to a system malfunction, and thus the scientific experiment data obtained were limited. Discoverer 20 decayed on 28 July 1962.[2]
^Bindschadler, Robert; Seider, Wendy (1 November 1998). (PDF). NASA/TM-1998-206879 (Report). NASA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"Discover 20". nasa.gov. Retrieved 26 September 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Mark Wade (August 9, 2003) Encyclopedia Astronautica
KH-5 ARGON GlobalSecurity.org
December 08, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources KH 5 Argon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message KH 5 ARGON was a series of reconnaissance satellites produced by the United States from February 1961 to August 1964 The KH 5 operated similarly to the CORONA series of satellites as it ejected a canister of photographic film At least 12 missions were attempted but at least 7 resulted in failure The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Launches used Thor Agena launch vehicles flying from Vandenberg Air Force Base with the payload being integrated into the Agena KH 5 ArgonManufacturerLockheed CorporationCountry of originUnited StatesOperatorNROApplicationsReconnaissanceGeodetic mappingSpecificationsBusRM 81 AgenaLaunch mass1 274 kg 2 809 lb EquipmentOptical cameras556 x 556 km coverage140 m resolutionRegimeLEODimensionsProductionStatusRetiredLaunched12Retired5Failed4Lost3Related spacecraftDerived fromCORONAA KH 5 ARGON with Agena B service module main features A KH 5 ARGON with Agena D service module main features Contents 1 Payload 2 Satellites 3 Launches 4 See also 5 ReferencesPayload editDifferent versions of the satellite varied in mass from 1 110 to 1 500 kg 2 450 to 3 310 lb At least two missions deployed ELINT subsatellites Ground resolution for the satellite was 140 m 460 ft with a swath of 556 km 345 mi The onboard camera had a focal length of 76 mm The purpose of the system which produced relatively low resolution images compared to other spy satellites was to provide imagery for cartography purposes This was one of the tasks that had originally been planned for the SAMOS series of satellites equipped with the quickly cancelled E 4 cameras Each satellite took photographs for less than a week before returning its film The satellite was in use during the same period as the KH 2 to KH 4A CORONA and the KH 6 LANYARD satellites Later satellites were the KH 4B and KH 7 GAMBIT Images from three of the successful missions returned the first images of Antarctica from space 1 Satellites editDiscoverer 20 KH 5 9014A was a USAF photographic reconnaissance satellite under the supervision of the National Reconnaissance Office NRO Discoverer 20 was the first KH 5 ARGON satellite to be launched The launch occurred at 20 24 00 GMT on 17 February 1961 A Thor DM 21 Agena B launch vehicle was used flying from LC 75 3 4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base It was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Epsilon 1 Discoverer 20 was operated in an Earth orbit with a perigee of 283 km 176 mi an apogee of 770 km 480 mi 80 91 of inclination and a period of 95 81 minutes The satellite was equipped with a camera with a focal length of 76 mm which had a resolution of 140 m 460 ft Images were recorded onto 127 mm film and were to have been returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle SRV before the satellite ceased operations The satellite weighed 1 110 kg 2 450 lb Recovery of the capsule was not attempted due to a system malfunction and thus the scientific experiment data obtained were limited Discoverer 20 decayed on 28 July 1962 2 Launches editName Launch Date NSSDC ID Alt Name Alt Name Mass kg Decay Date NotesKH 5 9014A 1961 02 17 1961 005A Discoverer 20 1961 Epsillon 1 1110 1962 07 28 Film capsule not ejected KH 5 9016A 1961 04 08 1961 011A Discoverer 23 1961 Lambda 1 1150 1962 04 16 Film capsule ejected into wrong orbit not recovered KH 5 9018A 1961 06 08 DISC24 Discoverer 24 1961 F05 1150 Failed to orbit KH 5 9020A 1961 07 21 DISC27 Discoverer 27 1961 F07 1150 Failed to orbit KH 5 9034A 1962 05 15 1962 018A FTV 1126 1962 Sigma 1150 1962 06 20 Successful KH 5 9042A 1962 09 01 1962 044A FTV 1132 1962 A Upsillon 1150 1962 10 01 Film capsule sank KH 5 9046A 1962 10 09 1962 053A FTV 1134 1962 B Epsillon 1500 1962 10 17 Successful KH 5 9055A 1963 04 26 1963 004X OPS 1008 1963 F07 1150 Failed to orbit KH 5 9058A 1963 08 29 1963 035A OPS 1561 1000 1963 09 30 Successful deployed ELINT subsatellite KH 5 9059A 1963 10 29 1963 042A OPS 2437 1500 1963 11 29 Successful deployed ELINT subsatellite KH 5 9065A 1964 06 13 1964 030A OPS 3236 1500 1964 07 14 Successful KH 5 9066A 1964 08 21 1964 048A OPS 2739 1500 1964 09 20 Successful See also edit nbsp Spaceflight portalKH 1 thru KH 4B CORONA KH 6 LANYARD KH 7 GAMBIT 1 KH 8 GAMBIT 3 KH 9 HEXAGON or Big Bird KH 10 DORIAN or Manned Orbital Laboratory KH 11 Satellite imagery Cold WarReferences edit Bindschadler Robert Seider Wendy 1 November 1998 Declassified Intelligence Satellite Photography DISP Coverage of Antarctica PDF NASA TM 1998 206879 Report NASA Archived from the original PDF on 14 May 2010 Retrieved 26 September 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Discover 20 nasa gov Retrieved 26 September 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Mark Wade August 9 2003 KH 5 Encyclopedia Astronautica KH 5 ARGON GlobalSecurity org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KH 5 Argon amp oldid 1075887502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
