Discoverer 31
Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
---|---|
Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
Harvard designation | 1961 Alpha Beta 1 |
COSPAR ID | 1961-026A |
SATCAT no. | 00186![]() |
Mission duration | 2 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | KH-3 Corona''' |
Bus | Agena-B |
Manufacturer | Lockheed |
Launch mass | 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 17 September 1961, 21:00 | UTC
Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 324 |
Launch site | Vandenberg LC-75-1-1 |
End of mission | |
Decay date | 26 October 1961 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 233 kilometers (145 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 380 kilometers (240 mi) |
Inclination | 82.7 degrees |
Period | 90.7 minutes |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Thor_Agena_B_with_Discoverer_31_%28Sep._17%2C_1961%29.gif/75px-Thor_Agena_B_with_Discoverer_31_%28Sep._17%2C_1961%29.gif)
Discoverer 31, also known as Corona 9024, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1]
The launch of Discoverer 31 occurred at 21:00 UTC on 17 September 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-1-1 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Alpha Beta 1.
Discoverer 31 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 233 kilometres (145 mi), an apogee of 380 kilometres (240 mi), 82.7 degrees of inclination, and a period of 90.7 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb),[4] and was equipped with a panoramic camera with a focal length of 61 centimetres (24 in), which had a maximum resolution of 7.6 metres (25 ft).[5] Images were recorded onto 70-millimeter (2.8 in) film, and were to have been returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle carried aboard Discoverer 31 was SRV-552. During the spacecraft's thirty-third orbit, the attitude control and power systems malfunctioned, and as a result Discoverer 31 was unable to complete its mission or return images.[4][6] It decayed from orbit on 26 October 1961.[3]
References
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-3 Corona". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "KH-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ Lindborg, Christina; Pike, John (9 September 2000). "KH-3 Corona". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 29 June 2010.