Encyclopedia entry

KH-5

Spacecraft · USA

Part of WS-117

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American military surveillance satellite. US mapping satellite. Carried one frame camera, with a focal length of 76 mm, and a ground resolution of 140 m. Reconnaissance, photo (Area survey) satellite built by Lockheed for USAF, USA. Launched 1963 - 1964.

Ground swath was 556 km x 556 km. The camera was adapted to a frame-scanning system and used on the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft.

More at: KH-5.

Subtopics

KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based) Null

Family: Military surveillance sat, Surveillance, Surveillance orbit
Country: USA
Engines: Star 12
Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Thor Agena B, Thor Agena D, Thor SLV-2A Agena D
Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC2E, Vandenberg SLC1W, Vandenberg SLC1E, Vandenberg SLC2W
Agency: USN, Lockheed
Bibliography: 126, 2, 279, 6, 4812, 4813, 6623, 12722, 12723

Photo Gallery

KH-5
Credit: Manufacturer Image

Chronology

11 events

1961 February 17

20:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

Discoverer 20 - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9014A / Agena B 1104. Mass: 1,110 kg (2,440 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1962-07-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 83 . COSPAR: 1961-Epsilon-1. Apogee: 491 km (305 mi). Perigee: 277 km (172 mi). Inclination: 80.80 deg. Period: 92.30 min. KH-5; film capsule not ejected. Mission failed. Program malfunctioned and capsule did not reenter. First attempted ARGON mission. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

SRV 520 - . Mass: 1,274 kg (2,808 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1961-10-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 90 . COSPAR: 1961-Epsilon-4. Apogee: 327 km (203 mi). Perigee: 321 km (199 mi). Inclination: 80.70 deg. Period: 91.00 min.

1961 April 8

19:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

Discoverer 23 - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9016A / Agena B 1106 / Capsule SRV 521. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1962-04-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 100 . COSPAR: 1961-Lambda-1. Apogee: 651 km (404 mi). Perigee: 295 km (183 mi). Inclination: 82.30 deg. Period: 94.10 min. KH-5; film capsule boosted into higher orbit, decayed 5/23/62. Mission failed. Loss of satellite control gas caused unstable condition. No recovery. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

1961 June 8

21:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.

Discoverer 24 - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9018A. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1961-06-08 . KH-5. Mission failed..

SRV 541 - . Mass: 1,274 kg (2,808 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5.

1961 July 21

22:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.

Discoverer 27 - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9020A. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1961-07-21 . KH-5; destroyed by range safety. Mission failed..

SRV 524 - . Mass: 1,274 kg (2,808 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5.

1962 May 15

19:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

KH-5 9034A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9034A/Agena B 1126. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1963-11-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 292 . COSPAR: 1962-Sigma-1. Apogee: 550 km (340 mi). Perigee: 283 km (175 mi). Inclination: 82.30 deg. Period: 93.00 min. KH-5; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. First successful KH-5 mission. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

1962 September 1

20:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

KH-5 9042A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9042A/Agena B 1132. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1964-10-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 385 . COSPAR: 1962-A-Upsilon-1. Apogee: 639 km (397 mi). Perigee: 293 km (182 mi). Inclination: 82.80 deg. Period: 94.00 min. KH-5. Mission failed. Parachute shrouds parted during air catch, capsule sank. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

SRV 600 - . Mass: 1,274 kg (2,808 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. COSPAR: 1962-A-Upsilon-x.

1962 October 9

18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

KH-5 9046A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9046A/Agena B 1134. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1962-10-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 436 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Epsilon-1. Apogee: 427 km (265 mi). Perigee: 213 km (132 mi). Inclination: 82.00 deg. Period: 91.00 min. KH-5; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. 50% of stellar terrain film was blank due to shutter malfunction. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

SRV 603 - . Mass: 1,274 kg (2,808 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. COSPAR: 1962-B-Epsilon-x.

1963 April 26

20:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D. FAILURE: Attitude sensors were misaligned. No orbit.. Failed Stage: U.

KH-5 9055A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9055A. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1963-04-26 . Mission failed..

1963 October 29

21:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2A Agena D.

KH-5 9059A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9059A/Agena D 1601 / OPS 2437. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1964-01-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 681 . COSPAR: 1963-042A. Apogee: 318 km (197 mi). Perigee: 283 km (175 mi). Inclination: 89.90 deg. Period: 90.60 min. KH-5; deployed ELINT subsatellite. Fourth film payload retrieved in ARGON program. Film comparable to that of 9058A. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

1964 June 13

15:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2A Agena D.

KH-5 9065A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9065A / OPS 3236. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1965-06-02 . USAF Sat Cat: 811 . COSPAR: 1964-030A. Apogee: 362 km (224 mi). Perigee: 352 km (218 mi). Inclination: 114.90 deg. Period: 91.70 min. KH-5; carried Star Flash experiment. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

1964 August 21

15:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2A Agena D.

KH-5 9066A - . Payload: KH-5 s/n 9066A / Agena D 1603 / OPS 2739. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-5. Decay Date: 1965-03-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 861 . COSPAR: 1964-048A. Apogee: 363 km (225 mi). Perigee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 114.90 deg. Period: 91.70 min. KH-5. 15% of stellar film degraded by flare. Image smearing on leading edge of main camera film. Final ARGON mission. Officially: Spacecraft Engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..