FTV-1132
FTV-1132, also known as the Corona 9042A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B.[1] The satellite operated successfully, but its film capsule was lost during recovery due to a parachute failure.
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force/NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1962 Alpha Upsilon 1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1962-044A |
| SATCAT no. | 00385 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-5 Argon |
| Bus | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Launch mass | 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 September 1962, 20:39 UTC |
| Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 348 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 26 October 1964 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 288 kilometers (179 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 670 kilometers (420 mi) |
| Inclination | 82.8 degrees |
| Period | 94.2 minutes |
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The launch of FTV-1132 occurred at 20:39 UTC on 1 September 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1962 Alpha Upsilon 1.
FTV-1132 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 288 kilometres (179 mi), an apogee of 670 kilometres (420 mi), 82.8 degrees of inclination, and a period of 94.2 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb),[4] 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-1132 was SRV-600. Following atmospheric reentry, SRV-600 was to have been collected in mid-air by a Fairchild C-119J Flying Boxcar aircraft, but when this was attempted the parachute separated from the spacecraft, causing the capsule to fall into the sea.[4] FTV-1132 decayed from orbit on 26 October 1964.[3]
References
- Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2010.