FTV-1132

FTV-1132
Mission type Optical reconnaissance
Operator US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation 1962 Alpha Upsilon 1
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 288 kilometers (179 mi)
Apogee 670 kilometers (420 mi)
Inclination 82.8 degrees
Period 94.2 minutes
The launch of 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, however its film capsule was lost during recovery due to a parachute failure.

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, however 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

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Retrieved 23 June 2010.