Discoverer 27

The launch of Discoverer 27

Discoverer 27, also known as Corona 9020A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961, but which failed to achieve orbit. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B.^[1] It was the fourth KH-5 to be launched, the second consecutive KH-5 launch failure, and the fourth consecutive KH-5 mission failure.

The launch of Discoverer 27 occurred at 22:35 UTC on 21 July 1961. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-4 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.^[2] As it ascended towards orbit, the rocket's pitch became anomalous, causing the range safety officer to command the rocket to self-destruct by means of its flight termination system.^[3]

Discoverer 27 was designed to operated in a low Earth orbit, and had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb).^[4] It 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] The camera would have recorded images onto 127-millimeter (5.0 in) film, which would have been returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, before the satellite ceased operations. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle carried by Discoverer 27 was SRV-524.^[4]

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