KH-5 Argon

KH-5 Argon
Manufacturer Lockheed
Country of origin United States
Operator NRO
Applications Reconnaissance
Geodetic mapping
Specifications
Bus RM-81 Agena
Launch mass 1,274 kilograms (2,809 lb)
Equipment Optical cameras
556 x 556 km coverage
140 m resolution
Regime LEO
Production
Status Retired
Launched 12
Retired 5
Failed 4
Lost 3
Related spacecraft
Derived from Corona
KH 5 ARGON (with Agena-B service module) main features
KH 5 ARGON (with Agena-D service module) main features

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 rockets flying from Vandenberg Air Force Base, with the payload being integrated into the Agena.

Payload

Different versions of the satellite varied in mass from 1150 kilograms to 1500 kg. At least two missions deployed ELINT subsatellites. Ground resolution for the satellite was 140 meters, with a swath of 556 km. 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 mapmaking 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-KH-4A Corona and the KH-6 Lanyard satellites. Later satellites were the KH-4B and KH-7. Images from three of the successful missions returned the first images of Antarctica from space.[1]

Launches

Name Launch Date NSSDC ID Alt Name Alt Name Mass (kg) Decay Date Notes
KH-5 9014A1961-02-171961-005ADiscoverer 201961 Epsillon11001962-07-28Film capsule not ejected
KH-5 9016A1961-04-081961-011ADiscoverer 231961 Lambda11501962-04-16Film capsule ejected into wrong orbit, not recovered
KH-5 9018A 1961-06- 8DISC24Discoverer 241961-F051150 --- Failed to orbit
KH-5 9020A1961-07-21DISC27Discoverer 271961-F071150---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- 1 1962-044A FTV 1132 1962 A Upsillon 1150 1962-10-01 Film capsule sank.
KH-5 9046A 1962-10- 9 1962-053A FTV 1134 1962 B Epsillon 1500 1962-10-17 Successful.
KH-5 9055A 1963-04-26 1963-F07 OPS 1008 1963-F07 1150 --- Failed to orbit
KH-5 9058A 1963-08-29 1963-035A OPS 1561 1963-035 1000 1963-09-30 Successful; deployed ELINT subsatellite
KH-5 9059A 1963-10-29 1963-042A OPS 2437 1963-042 1500 1963-11-29 Successful; deployed ELINT subsatellite
KH-5 9065A 1964-06-13 1964-030A OPS 3236 1964-030 1500 1964-07-14 Successful.
KH-5 9066A 1964-08-21 1964-048A OPS 2739 1964-048 1500 1964-09-20 Successful.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Robert Bindschadler and Wendy Seider (November 1998). "Declassified Intelligence Satellite Photography (DISP) Coverage of Antarctica" (PDF). NASA/TM-1998-206879.
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