KH-4

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KH-4 Recovery
Credit - CIA

Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Destination: Surveillance Orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Manufacturer: Lockheed.

Early US reconnaissance satellite. Carried two 'Mural' panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 7.6 m. Also carried a 1.5 inch index camera, with a focal length of 38 mm, a ground resolution of 162 m, and frame coverage of 308 km x 308 km.

Typical orbit: 204 x 403 km, 74.6 deg inclinaton. Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb).

KH-4 Chronology

1962 February 27 - Discoverer 38 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 207 km (128 mi). Apogee: 277 km (172 mi). Inclination: 82.20 deg. Period: 89.40 min.
First mission of the KH-4 series. Much of film slightly out of focus.. Capsule recovered 4.1 days later.

1962 April 18 - Discoverer 39 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Apogee: 540 km (330 mi). Inclination: 73.50 deg. Period: 91.60 min.
KH-4. Best mission to date.

1962 April 29 - KH-4 9033 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Apogee: 475 km (295 mi). Inclination: 73.10 deg. Period: 91.10 min.
KH-4. Mission failed. Parachute ejector squibs holding parachute container cover failed to fire. No recovery.

1962 May 30 - KH-4 9035 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Apogee: 350 km (210 mi). Inclination: 74.10 deg. Period: 89.90 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 3.1 days later. Slight corona static on film.

1962 June 2 - KH-4 9036 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 211 km (131 mi). Apogee: 401 km (249 mi). Inclination: 74.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min.
KH-4. Mission failed. During air catch, chute tore loose. Capsule sank.

1962 June 23 - KH-4 9037 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 314 km (195 mi). Inclination: 75.10 deg. Period: 89.60 min.
KH-4. Corona static occurs on some film.

1962 June 28 - KH-4 9038 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 698 km (433 mi). Inclination: 76.00 deg. Period: 93.60 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Severe corona static.

1962 July 21 - KH-4 9039 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 206 km (128 mi). Apogee: 376 km (233 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 90.30 min.
KH-4. Aborted after 6 photo passes. Heavy corona and radiation fog.

1962 July 28 - KH-4 9040 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Apogee: 403 km (250 mi). Inclination: 71.00 deg. Period: 90.60 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. No filters on slave horizon cameras. Heavy corona and radiation fog.

1962 August 2 - KH-4 9041 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Apogee: 423 km (262 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 90.80 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Severe corona and radiation fog.

1962 August 29 - KH-4 9044 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 187 km (116 mi). Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). Inclination: 65.20 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Erratic vehicle attitude. Radiation fog minimal.

1962 September 17 - KH-4 9043 / TRS 1 (ERS 2) - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Apogee: 668 km (415 mi). Inclination: 81.80 deg. Period: 93.30 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 1.1 days later; ERS-2 subsatellite failed to deploy. Capping shutter malfunction, slight corona and radiation fog.

1962 September 29 - KH-4 9045 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 190 km (110 mi). Apogee: 388 km (241 mi). Inclination: 65.40 deg. Period: 90.30 min.
KH-4. First use of stellar camera, erratic vehicle attitude, numerous light leaks.

1962 November 5 - KH-4 9047 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 208 km (129 mi). Apogee: 403 km (250 mi). Inclination: 75.00 deg. Period: 90.60 min.
KH-4; film capsule; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Camera door malfunctioned, flare degraded 15% of film.

1962 November 5 - SRV 599 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

1962 November 24 - KH-4 9048 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 206 km (128 mi). Apogee: 339 km (210 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.90 min.
KH-4. Some film exposed through base.

1962 December 4 - KH-4 9049 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 89.20 min.
KH-4. Mission failed. During air catch chute tore, capsule sank.

1962 December 14 - KH-4 9050 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 200 km (120 mi). Apogee: 386 km (239 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 90.30 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Best mission to date.

1963 January 7 - KH-4 9051 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 202 km (125 mi). Apogee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 82.00 deg. Period: 90.30 min.
KH-4. Erratic vehicle attitude. Frame ephemeris not created.

1963 February 28 - KH-4 9052 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).
KH-4. Mission failed.

1963 February 28 - SRV 610 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure.

1963 April 1 - KH-4 9053 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Apogee: 408 km (253 mi). Inclination: 74.90 deg. Period: 90.50 min.
KH-4; film capsule recovered 3.1 days later. Best imagery to date.

1963 June 12 - KH-4 9054 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 193 km (119 mi). Apogee: 416 km (258 mi). Inclination: 81.80 deg. Period: 90.70 min.
KH-4. Some imagery seriously affected by corona.

1963 June 27 - KH-4 9056 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 338 km (210 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 89.90 min.
KH-4. Experimental camera carried. Film affected by light leaks.

1963 July 19 - KH-4 9057 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Apogee: 382 km (237 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
KH-4. Best mission to date.

1963 August 29 - KH-4 9033 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Perigee: 292 km (181 mi). Apogee: 324 km (201 mi). Inclination: 81.90 deg. Period: 90.80 min.
KH-5; deployed ELINT subsatellite. Considered to be best mission to date in Argon program.

1963 November 9 - SRV 632 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure.

1963 November 9 - KH-4 9060 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb).
KH-4. Mission failed.

1963 November 27 - KH-4 9061 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Perigee: 182 km (113 mi). Apogee: 368 km (228 mi). Inclination: 69.60 deg. Period: 90.00 min.
KH-4. Mission failed. Return capsule separated from satellite but remained in orbit.

1963 December 21 - KH-4 9062 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Perigee: 178 km (110 mi). Apogee: 337 km (209 mi). Inclination: 64.80 deg. Period: 89.70 min.
KH-4; deployed ELINT subsatellite. Corona static fogged much of film.

1963 December 21 - P-11 motor - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
Bramscher, Robert G, Spaceflight, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Web Address when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.

Corona Optics
Corona Satellite Optical Path...
Corona Satellite Optical Path

KH-4 Systems
Credit- CIA