United States Air ForceThor Agena ASpace Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Discoverer 11
Launched
April 15, 1960
Image: USAF
Summary
Discoverer 11 launched on an United States Air Force Thor Agena A from Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on April 15, 1960. It was United States Air Force's 18th launch, 7th this year and humanity's 63rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 11th Thor Agena A flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor Agena A · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 11th Thor Agena A flight · 3rd this yearUnited States Air Force's 18th launch7th this yearhumanity's 63rd orbital launch attempt9th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Discoverer 11 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The eighth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it successfully employed the first space-worthy camera film; however, Discoverer's film return capsule was lost during reentry on 16 Apr when the satellite's spin motors exploded.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
5th launch from Space Launch Complex 1E, 2nd this year · 11th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
45 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
56 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Discoverer 11 launch?
Discoverer 11 launched on April 15, 1960. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Discoverer 11?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Discoverer 11?
Thor Agena A, flown by United States Air Force. Thor Agena A spec sheet
Where did Discoverer 11 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Discoverer 11 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.