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

Early US reconnaissance satellite. Carried two 'J-3' panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 1.8 m. Ground swath was 16 km x 217 km. Also carried a DISIC (Dual Improved Stellar Index) camera, with a focal length of 91 cm, a ground resolution of 30 m, and frame coverage of 260 km x 260 km.

Typical orbit: 315 km circular orbit, 81 deg inclination. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb).

KH-4B Chronology
  • 1967 September 15 - KH-4B 1101 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Apogee: 372 km (231 mi). Inclination: 80.00 deg. Period: 89.70 min.
    KH-4B. First mission of the KH-4B series. Best film to date.

  • 1967 December 9 - KH-4B 1102 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 151 km (93 mi). Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
    KH-4B. Noticeable image smear for forward camera, but best imagery to date.

  • 1968 May 1 - KH-4B 1103 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 164 km (101 mi). Apogee: 243 km (150 mi). Inclination: 83.10 deg. Period: 88.60 min.
    KH-4B. Out-of-focus imagery is present on both main camera records.

  • 1968 May 1 - SRV 807 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

  • 1968 August 7 - KH-4B 1104 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Inclination: 82.10 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
    KH-4B. Best imagery to date on any KH-4 systems. Bicolor and color infrared experiments were conducted on this mission.

  • 1968 November 3 - KH-4B 1105 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 150 km (90 mi). Apogee: 288 km (178 mi). Inclination: 82.20 deg. Period: 88.90 min.
    KH-4B. Image quality is variable and displays areas of soft focus and image smear.

  • 1969 February 5 - KH-4B 1106 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 147 km (91 mi). Apogee: 275 km (170 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
    KH-4B. The best image quality to date.

  • 1969 February 5 - SRV 801R - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 1,391 km (864 mi). Apogee: 1,428 km (887 mi). Inclination: 80.40 deg. Period: 114.00 min.
    ABM monitoring.

  • 1969 July 24 - KH-4B 1107 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 182 km (113 mi). Apogee: 203 km (126 mi). Inclination: 74.90 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
    KH-4B. Forward camera failed on pass 1 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission.

  • 1969 December 4 - KH-4B 1108 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 161 km (100 mi). Apogee: 229 km (142 mi). Inclination: 81.40 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
    KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily and the mission carried 811 ft of aerial color film added to the end of the film supply.

  • 1970 March 4 - KH-4B 1109 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 167 km (103 mi). Apogee: 257 km (159 mi). Inclination: 88.00 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
    KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily but the overall image quality of both the forward and aft records is variable.

  • 1970 March 4 - SRV 819 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 441 km (274 mi). Apogee: 509 km (316 mi). Inclination: 88.10 deg. Period: 94.10 min.
    Radar monitoring; may or may not have existed!!!

  • 1970 May 20 - KH-4B 1110 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 162 km (100 mi). Apogee: 247 km (153 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 88.60 min.
    KH-4B. The overall image quality is less than that provided by recent missions and 2,000 feet of S0-349

  • 1970 July 23 - KH-4B 1111 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Apogee: 379 km (235 mi). Inclination: 59.90 deg. Period: 89.80 min.
    KH-4B. The overall image quality is good.

  • 1970 November 18 - KH-4B 1112 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Apogee: 227 km (141 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
    KH-4B. The forward camera failed on pass 104 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission.

  • 1970 November 18 - SRV 827 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 493 km (306 mi). Apogee: 505 km (313 mi). Inclination: 83.10 deg. Period: 94.60 min.
    Radar monitoring.

  • 1971 February 17 - SRV 826 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure.

  • 1971 February 17 - KH-4B 1113 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).
    KH-4B. The launch vehicle had a very cold boattail due to a hose discovered to be leaking away warming air to the boattail. The boattail was colder than usual, below freezing. Based on earlier tests of the Thor for just that condition, as relayed by Ed Dierdorf, Thor chief engineer at the time, the temp low was of no concern.

    The only problem was that those tests were made with a Thor that carried a Rocketdyne engine lubricated with "lube oil". The Thor being launched used a fuel additive, "Orinite" (like STP "super snot"). The technician that pumped the Orinite into its cannister later stated, "It wasn't for lack of orinite. I put it in just like the procedure said, and I could feel when it was full (with the hand pump). To make sure, I gave it another slug."

    That "other slug" cracked the output valve that was only supposed to be cracked by turbopump output pressure. When it cracked the output valve a bit of the "honey" squirted down the tube toward engine bearing jets. This line had a low spot in it by design. The Orinite settled there. When it was chilled by the low temp air at lox loading, the Orinite formed a plug.

    Unaware of this chain of circumstances, Launch Director Philip Payne made the decision to launch. The rocket (carrying Agena D and payload) flew for 18 seconds, then wiped out its gears, causing the turbine to overspeed and shed its vanes. These punctured various parts in the boattail like machine gun bullets. With loss of power, the rocket fell not far from the launch pad into Bear Creek canyon.

    The final cause was therefore found to be loss of engine lubrication at startup.

  • 1971 February 17 - SRV 825 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. FAILURE: Failure.

  • 1971 March 24 - KH-4B 1114 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Apogee: 245 km (152 mi). Inclination: 81.50 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
    KH-4B. The overall image quality is good and comparable to the best of past missions. On-board program failed

  • 1971 September 10 - SRV 831 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 489 km (303 mi). Apogee: 516 km (320 mi). Inclination: 75.00 deg. Period: 94.70 min.
    Radar monitoring.

  • 1971 September 10 - KH-4B 1115 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 157 km (97 mi). Apogee: 234 km (145 mi). Inclination: 74.90 deg. Period: 88.30 min.
    KH-4B. Overall image quality is good.

  • 1972 April 19 - KH-4B 1116 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 154 km (95 mi). Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
    KH-4B. Very successful mission and image quality was good.

  • 1972 May 25 - KH-4B 1117 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Apogee: 305 km (189 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 89.20 min.
    KH-4B. Last KH-4B mission. Very successful mission, image quality was good. Final CORONA mission.

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, Jonathon, Quest, "US Reconnaissance Satellite Programs Part 2", 1995, Volume 4, Issue 4, page 49.
  • McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Web Address when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.
  • Payne, Philip, Personal communication, December 1, 2000.,
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