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FTV-1126

Mission type	Optical reconnaissance
Operator	US Air Force/NRO
Harvard designation	1962 Sigma 1
COSPAR ID	1962-018A
SATCAT no.	00292
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	KH-5 Argon
Bus	Agena-B
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Launch mass	1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	15 May 1962, 19:36 (1962-05-15UTC19:36Z) UTC
Rocket	Thor DM-21 Agena-B 334
Launch site	Vandenberg LC-75-3-5
End of mission
Decay date	26 November 1963 (1963-11-27)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	284 kilometers (176 mi)
Apogee altitude	632 kilometers (393 mi)
Inclination	82.3 degrees
Period	93.75 minutes

FTV-1126, also known as Corona 9034A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. It was also unofficially known as Discoverer 41, a continuation of the designation sequence used for previous US reconnaissance satellites, which had officially been discontinued after Discoverer 38. It was the first KH-5 satellite to complete its mission successfully.

The launch of FTV-1126 occurred at 19:36 UTC on 15 May 1962. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1962 Sigma 1.

FTV-1126 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 284 kilometres (176 mi), an apogee of 632 kilometres (393 mi), 82.3 degrees of inclination, and a period of 93.75 minutes. The satellite had a mass of 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb), and was equipped with a frame camera with a focal length of 76 millimetres (3.0 in), which had a maximum resolution of 140 metres (460 ft). Images were recorded onto 127-millimeter (5.0 in) film, and returned in a Satellite Recovery Vehicle, before the satellite ceased operations. The Satellite Recovery Vehicle used by FTV-1126 was 582. Once its images had been returned, the inactive FTV-1126 decayed from orbit on 26 November 1963.

References

1. Krebs, Gunter. "KH-5 Argon (Agena-B based)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
2. ^ Wade, Mark. "KH-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
5. "Corona". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.

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