Military Wiki
K
Manufacturer Lockheed
Country of origin United States
Operator NRO
Applications Reconnaissance
Geodetic mapping
Specifications
Launch mass 1274
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 RM-81 Agena
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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 9014A 1961-02-17 1961-005A Discoverer 20 1961 Epsillon 1100 1962-07-28 Film capsule not ejected
KH-5 9016A 1961-04-08 1961-011A Discoverer 23 1961 Lambda 1150 1962-04-16 Film capsule ejected into wrong orbit, not recovered
KH-5 9018A 1961-06- 8 DISC24 Discoverer 24 1961-F05 1150 --- Failed to orbit
KH-5 9020A 1961-07-21 DISC27 Discoverer 27 1961-F07 1150 --- 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[]

  • KH-1 thru 4 CORONA, KH-6-LANYARD, KH-7, KH-8-GAMBIT
  • KH-9-HEXAGON "Big Bird"
  • KH-10-DORIAN or Manned Orbital Laboratory
  • KH-11
  • Satellite imagery
  • Cold War

References[]

  • Mark Wade (August 9, 2003). KH-5. Encyclopedia Astronautica.
  • KH-5 Argon. GlobalSecurity.org.


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