-
cold war
used these satellites for the surveillance of the USSR and China during the cold war. -
approved
The project was approved by President Dwight David Eisenhower in February 1958. -
First launch of spy satellite
From June 1959 to Septmeber 1960 the first spy satellites were launched into space each one had a panaramic camera and one return shuttle. -
discovery 1
Discover 1 was a prototype it did not contain a camera or film in it like other sattelites did in the future. later on it was sent into orbit and was never retrieved. It was predicted that it landed somewhere in the south pole. -
KH-1
A HYAC camera with Tessar f/5 lens and 24” (61 cm) focal length was used. The film used was an acetate film, which was 3 mm thick. However, it was later replaced with Eastman Kodak for subsequent satellites. The achieved resolution was 40 ft. The amount of film used was 3,548 ft. The mission lasted for 1 day. It had one successful mission. The altitude varied from 192 to 817 km. -
first succefull recovery
discoverer 14 was was the first corona mission onb which the film was succesfully recovered from orbit -
first succesfull mission
when it was launched the first picture was declassified -
film
The corona series of satellites operated for nearly 12 years. It took over 800,000 images from space and over 2.1 million feet of film (Eastman Kodak film) in 39,000 cans. -
The first use of multiple re-entry vehicles.
were used so when something entered it did not burn up and get destroyed -
KH-2
The amount of film used was 17,949 ft. The ground resolution was improved to 25 ft. It used single panoramic camera and a single return vehicle. The mission lasted for 2-3 days. It had 3 successful missions. The altitude was from 254 to about 704 km. -
KH-3
Petzval form of lens was used from this satellite onwards. It used single panoramic camera and a single return vehicle. It produced 24,676 ft of film. The mission lasted for 1-4 days. It had 5 successful missions. The altitudewas from 217 to 232 km -
KH-4
It used two panoramic cameras. it had 239,299 ft of film. The resolution varied from 10 to 25 ft. The mission lasted for 6-7 days. It had 20 successful missions. The altitude was from 211 to 415 km. -
KH-4A
It used two panoramic cameras. it had about 1,293,025 ft of film. The resolution was improved to 9 ft.. The mission lasted for 4-15days. It had 49 successful missions. The altitude was 180 km. -
All cameras operated succesfull
All cameras operated satisfactorily. First mission flown with pan geometry modification. -
KH-4B
used 2 panoramic cameras,it had 505,970 ft of film. The ground resolution was improved to 6 ft. The mission lasted for 19 days. It had 16 successful missions. The altitude was 150 km
