United States Air ForceThor Agena ASpace Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Discoverer 1
Launched
February 28, 1959
Image: USAF
Summary
Discoverer 1 launched on an United States Air Force Thor Agena A from Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on February 28, 1959. The mission failed. It was United States Air Force's 1st launch, 1st this year and humanity's 34th orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Thor Agena A flight. The payload was bound for Polar Orbit (PO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor Agena A · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Polar Orbit (PO)
- Milestone
- 1st Thor Agena A flightUnited States Air Force's 1st launch1st this yearhumanity's 34th orbital launch attempt3rd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Discoverer I was the first of a series of satellites part of the CORONA reconnaissance program. This satellite didn't take a camera or film system as it was intended as a test. There were issues communicating with the satellite during flight with only intermittent signals being read.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
1st launch from Space Launch Complex 1W, 1st this year · 1st from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
56 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
under an hour after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Discoverer 1 launch?
Discoverer 1 launched on February 28, 1959. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Discoverer 1?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Discoverer 1?
Thor Agena A, flown by United States Air Force. Thor Agena A spec sheet
Where did Discoverer 1 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Discoverer 1 going to?
Polar Orbit (PO), a government/top secret mission.