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Article Number: 1900. Code Name: Hexagon. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Destination: Surveillance Orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Manufacturer: Lockheed. Popularly known as 'Big Bird'. Titan 3C-class film-return reconnaissance satellite. Ground resolution 0.6 m. 2 x 1.52 m focal length camera; on 5 missions 1 x 0.30 m focal length mapping camera was carried. 4 capsules for return of film. Developed as backup to cancelled Manned Orbiting Lab. Mission life up to 275 days by end of program.
Typical orbit: 204 x 304 km, 96.2 deg inclinaton. Length: 15.20 m (49.80 ft). Maximum Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb).
KH-9 Chronology - 1971 June 15 - KH-9 no. 01 (Big Bird) - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 89.30 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1972 January 20 - KH-9 no. 02 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Apogee: 330 km (200 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 89.30 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1972 July 7 - KH-9 no. 03 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 176 km (109 mi). Apogee: 254 km (157 mi). Inclination: 96.00 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.
- 1972 October 10 - KH-9 no. 04 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Apogee: 281 km (174 mi). Inclination: 96.50 deg. Period: 88.90 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1973 March 9 - KH-9 no. 05 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 150 km (90 mi). Apogee: 262 km (162 mi). Inclination: 95.70 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1973 July 13 - KH-9 no. 06 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 143 km (88 mi). Apogee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 96.20 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1973 November 10 - Titan 23D no. 8 stage - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 486 km (301 mi). Apogee: 508 km (315 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 94.50 min.
ABM monitoring.
- 1973 November 10 - KH-9 no. 07 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Apogee: 275 km (170 mi). Inclination: 96.90 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1974 April 10 - KH-9 no. 08 Capsule - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Perigee: 786 km (488 mi). Apogee: 830 km (510 mi). Inclination: 94.60 deg. Period: 101.10 min.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1974 April 10 - KH-9 no. 08 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Apogee: 285 km (177 mi). Inclination: 94.50 deg. Period: 88.90 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1974 October 29 - KH-9 no. 09 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 115 km (71 mi). Apogee: 272 km (169 mi). Inclination: 96.70 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1975 June 8 - KH-9 no. 10 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 157 km (97 mi). Apogee: 272 km (169 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1975 December 4 - KH-9 no. 11 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 157 km (97 mi). Apogee: 234 km (145 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 88.40 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1976 July 8 - KH-9 no. 12 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,000 kg (28,000 lb). Perigee: 159 km (98 mi). Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1977 June 27 - KH-9 no. 13 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 155 km (96 mi). Apogee: 239 km (148 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
- 1978 March 16 - KH-9 no. 14 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Apogee: 240 km (140 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1979 March 16 - KH-9 no. 15 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 170 km (100 mi). Apogee: 258 km (160 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1980 June 18 - KH-9 no. 16 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 164 km (101 mi). Apogee: 262 km (162 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
- 1982 May 11 - KH-9 no. 17 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 177 km (109 mi). Apogee: 262 km (162 mi). Inclination: 96.40 deg. Period: 88.90 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
- 1983 June 20 - KH-9 no. 18 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 159 km (98 mi). Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Inclination: 96.50 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
- 1984 June 25 - USA 2 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Perigee: 170 km (100 mi). Apogee: 230 km (140 mi). Inclination: 96.50 deg. Period: 88.50 min.
KH-9 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
- 1986 April 18 - KH-9 no. 20 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. FAILURE: SRM case insulation burned through, causing case burn-through and catastrophic explosion over pad at T+8.5 seconds. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb).
KH-9 type satellite.
- 1986 April 18 - SRV-1 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb).
- 1986 April 18 - SRV-2 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb).
- 1986 April 18 - SRV-3 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb).
- 1986 April 18 - SRV-4 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 11,400 kg (25,100 lb).
Bibliography:- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Web Address when accessed: http://www.skyrocket.de/space.
- JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
- 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.
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