+------------+---------+-----------+------------+------------+------------+ | KH | System | Successful| Period of | Amount of | No. of | | Designator | | Mission | Operations | Film | Primary | | | | Numbers | | (ft.) | Camera | | | | | | | Frames | |------------|---------|-----------|------------|------------|------------| | KH-4 | CORONA | 9031, | February | 239,299 | 101,743 | | | | 9032, | 1962 - | | | | | | 9035, | December | | | | | | 9037, | 1963 | | | | | | 9038, | | | | | | | 9039, | | | | | | | 9040, | | | | | | | 9041, | | | | | | | 9043, | | | | | | | 9044, | | | | | | | 9045, | | | | | | | 9047, | | | | | | | 9048, | | | | | | | 9050, | | | | | | | 9051, | | | | | | | 9053, | | | | | | | 9054, | | | | | | | 9056, | | | | | | | 9057, | | | | | | | 9062 | | | | |------------|---------|-----------|------------|------------|------------| | KH-4A | CORONA | 1001, | August | 1,293,025 | 517,688 | | | | 1002, | 1963 - | | | | | | 1004, | October | | | | | | 1006 | 1969 | | | | | | through | | | | | | | 1031, | | | | | | | 1033 | | | | | | | through | | | | | | | 1052 | | | | |------------|---------|-----------|------------|------------|------------| | KH-4B | CORONA | 1101 | September | *505,970 | 188,526 | | | | through | 1967 - May | | | | | | 1112, | 1972 | | | | | | 1114 | | | | | | | through | | | | | | | 1117 | | | | +------------+---------+-----------+------------+------------+------------+
The following table gives a listing of all missions organized according to mission number order. The statement "mission failed" is made under the mission description for missions that failed to acquire imagery.
|---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | KH-4 Mission | Date | Short Mission Description | | | Launched | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9031 | 27FEB2962 | *First mission of the KH-4 series. | | | | Much of film slightly out of focus. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9032 | 18-Apr-62 | *Best mission to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9033 | 28-Apr-62 | Mission failed. Parachute ejector | | | | squibs holding parachute container | | | | cover failed to fire. No recovery. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9034A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9035 | 30-May-62 | *Slight corona static on film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9036 | 2-Jun-62 | Mission failed. During air catch, | | | | chute tore loose. Capsule sank. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9037 | 23-Jun-62 | Corona static occurs on some film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9038 | 28-Jun-62 | *Severe corona static. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9039 | 21-Jul-62 | Aborted after 6 photo passes. Heavy | | | | corona and radiation fog. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9040 | 28-Jul-62 | *No filters on slave horizon | | | | cameras. Heavy corona and radiation | | | | fog. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9041 | 2-Aug-62 | *Severe corona and radiation fog. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9042A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9043 | 17-Sep-62 | Capping shutter malfunction, slight | | | | corona and radiation fog. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9044 | 29-Aug-62 | *Erratic vehicle attitude. | | | | Radiation fog minimal. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9045 | 29-Sep-62 | *First use of stellar camera, | | | | erratic vehicle attitude, numerous | | | | light leaks. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9046A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9047 | 5-Nov-62 | Camera door malfunctioned, flare | | | | degraded 15% of film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9048 | 24-Nov-62 | Some film exposed through base. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9049 | 4-Dec-62 | Mission failed. During air catch | | | | chute tore, capsule sank. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9050 | 14-Dec-62 | Best mission to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9051 | 7-Jan-63 | Erratic vehicle attitude. Frame | | | | ephemeris not created. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9052 | 28-Feb-63 | Mission failed. Destroyed by range | | | | safety officer, 100 seconds after | | | | launch. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9053 | 1-Apr-63 | Best imagery to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9054 | 12-Jun-63 | *Some imagery seriously affected by | | | | corona. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9055A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9056 | 26-Jun-63 | *Experimental camera carried. Film | | | | affected by light leaks. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9057 | 18-Jul-63 | Best mission to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9058A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9059A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9060 | 9-Nov-63 | Mission failed. No orbit. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9061 | 27-Nov-63 | Mission failed. Return capsule | | | | separated from satellite but | | | | remained in orbit. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9062 | 21-Dec-63 | Corona static fogged much of film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9065A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 9066A | See KH-5 | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | | | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | KH-4A | Date | Short Mission Description | | Mission | Launched | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1001 | 24-Aug-63 | *First mission of KH-4A. Some film | | | | was fogged. Two buckets but 1001-2 | | | | was never recovered. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1002 | 23-Sep-63 | *Severe light leaks, 1002-2 never | | | | recovered, indefinite postponement | | | | of KH-4A series. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1003 | 24-Mar-64 | Mission failed. Guidance system | | | | failed. No orbit. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1004 | 15-Feb-64 | *Main cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. Minor degradations | | | | due to static and light leaks. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1005 | 27-Apr-64 | Mission failed. Recovery vehicle | | | | impacted in Venezuela. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1006 | 4-Jun-64 | Highest quality imagery attained to | | | | date from the KH-4 system. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1007 | 19-Jun-64 | Out-of-focus area on some film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1008 | 10-Jul-64 | *Cameras operated satisfactorily, | | | | some light leaks. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1009 | 5-Aug-64 | *Cameras operated successfully. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1010 | 14-Sep-64 | *Small out of focus areas on both | | | | cameras at random times throughout | | | | the mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1011 | 5-Oct-64 | *Primary mode of recovery failed on | | | | second portion of the mission | | | | (1011-2). Small out of focus areas | | | | present at random on both cameras. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1012 | 17-Oct-64 | *Vehicle attitude became erratic on | | | | the second portion of the mission | | | | necessitating an early recovery. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1013 | 2-Nov-64 | *Program anomaly occurred | | | | immediately after launch when both | | | | cameras operated for 417 frames. | | | | Main cameras ceased operation on rev | | | | 52D of first portion of mission | | | | negating second portion. About 65% | | | | of aft camera film is out of focus. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1014 | 18-Nov-64 | *Cameras operated successfully. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1015 | 19-Dec-64 | *Discrepancies in planned and | | | | actual coverage due to telemetry | | | | problems during the first 6 | | | | revolutions. Small out-of-focus | | | | areas on film from aft camera. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1016 | 15-Jan-65 | *Smearing of highly reflective | | | | images due to reflections within | | | | camera. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1017 | 25-Feb-65 | *Capping shutter malfunction | | | | occurred during last 5 passes of | | | | mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1018 | 25-Mar-65 | *Cameras operated successfully. | | | | First KH-4A reconnaissance system to | | | | be launched into a retrograde | | | | orbit. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1019 | 29-Apr-65 | *Cameras operated successfully. | | | | Malfunction in recovery mode on | | | | 1019-2 negated recovery. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1020 | 9-Jun-65 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. Erratic attitude | | | | caused an early recovery after the | | | | second day of 1020-2. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1021 | 18-May-65 | *Aft camera ceased operation on pass | | | | 102. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1022 | 19-Jul-65 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1023 | 17-Aug-65 | * Program anomaly caused the fore | | | | camera to cease operation during | | | | revolutions 103-132. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1024 | 22-Sep-65 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. Cameras not | | | | operated on passes 88D-93D. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1025 | 5-Oct-65 | *Main cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1026 | 28-Oct-65 | * All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1027 | 9-Dec-65 | *Erratic attitude necessitated | | | | recovery after two days of | | | | operation. All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1028 | 24-Dec-65 | * Cameras operated satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1029 | 2-Feb-66 | *Both panoramic cameras were | | | | operational throughout. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1030 | 9-Mar-66 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1031 | 7-Apr-66 | *The aft-looking camera | | | | malfunctioned after the recovery of | | | | bucket "1". No material was | | | | received in bucket "2" (1031-2). | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1032 | 3-May-66 | Mission failed. Vehicle failed to | | | | achieve orbit. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1033 | 24-May-66 | *The stellar camera shutter of | | | | bucket "2" remained open for | | | | approximately 200 frames. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1034 | 21-Jun-66 | *Failure of velocity/altitude | | | | programmer produced poor imagery | | | | after revolution 5. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1035 | 20-Sep-66 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. First mission flown | | | | with pan geometry modification. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1036 | 9-Aug-66 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1037 | 8-Nov-66 | *Second pan geometry mission. | | | | Higher than normal base plus fog | | | | encountered on both main camera | | | | records. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1038 | 14-Jan-67 | *Fair image quality. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1039 | 22-Feb-67 | *Normal KH-4 mission. Light from | | | | horizon camera on both main camera | | | | records during 1039-1. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1040 | 30-Mar-67 | Satellite flown nose first, all | | | | cameras operated satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1041 | 9-May-67 | *Due to the failure of the booster | | | | cut-off switch, the satellite went | | | | into a highly eccentric orbit. | | | | Significant image degradation. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1042 | 16-Jun-67 | *Small out-of-focus area in forward | | | | camera of 1042-1. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1043 | 7-Aug-67 | *Forward camera film came out of the | | | | rails on pass 230D. Film degraded | | | | past this point. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1044 | 2-Nov-67 | *All cameras operated fine. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1045 | 24-Jan-68 | *All cameras operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1046 | 14-Mar-68 | * Image quality good for 1046-1 and | | | | fair for 1046-2. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1047 | 20-Jun-68 | *Out-of-focus imagery is present on | | | | both main camera records. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1048 | 18-Sep-68 | *Film in the forward camera | | | | separated and camera failed on | | | | mission 1048-2, also the | | | | stellar/index camera unit failed. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1049 | 12-Dec-68 | *Degraded film | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1050 | 19-Mar-69 | *Due to abnormal rotational rates | | | | after revolution 22, the mission was | | | | terminated after a total of three | | | | days collecting photography. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1051 | 2-May-69 | *Imagery of both pan camera records | | | | is soft and lacks crispness and edge | | | | sharpness. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1052 | 22-Sep-69 | *Last of the KH-4A missions, all | | | | camera systems operated | | | | satisfactorily. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | | | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | KH-4B | Date | Short Mission Description | | Mission | Launched | | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1101 | 15-Sep-67 | First mission of the KH-4B series. | | | | Best film to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1102 | 9-Dec-67 | *Noticeable image smear for forward | | | | camera, but best imagery to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1103 | 1-May-68 | *Out-of-focus imagery is present on | | | | both main camera records. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1104 | 7-Aug-68 | *Best imagery to date on any KH-4 | | | | systems. Bicolor and color infrared | | | | experiments were conducted on this | | | | mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1105 | 3-Nov-68 | *Image quality is variable and | | | | displays areas of soft focus and | | | | image smear. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1106 | 5-Feb-69 | *The best image quality to date. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1107 | 24-Jul-69 | Forward camera failed on pass 1 and | | | | remained inoperative throughout the | | | | rest of the mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1108 | 4-Dec-69 | Cameras operated satisfactorily and | | | | the mission carried 811 ft of aerial | | | | color film added to the end of the | | | | film supply. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1109 | 4-Mar-70 | Cameras operated satisfactorily but | | | | the overall image quality of both | | | | the forward and aft records is | | | | variable. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1110 | 20-May-70 | The overall image quality is less | | | | than that provided by recent | | | | missions and 2,000 feet of S0-349 | | | | (new film) was spliced into the | | | | regular film. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1111 | 23-Jul-70 | The overall image quality is good. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1112 | 18-Nov-70 | The forward camera failed on pass | | | | 104 and remained inoperative | | | | throughout the rest of the mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1113 | 17-Feb-71 | Mission failed due to failure of | | | | Thor booster. Destroyed shortly | | | | after launch. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1114 | 24-Mar-71 | *The overall image quality is good | | | | and comparable to the best of past | | | | missions. On-board program failed | | | | after pass 235, ceasing photographic | | | | acquisition. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1115 | 10-Sep-71 | *Overall image quality is good. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1116 | 19-Mar-72 | *Very successful mission and image | | | | quality was good. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------| | 1117 | 25-May-72 | *Last KH-4B mission. Very | | | | successful mission, image quality | | | | was good. Final CORONA mission. | |---------------|---------------|--------------------------------------|