United States Air ForceThor DM-21 Agena-BSpace Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Discoverer 21 (MIDAS RM-2)
Launched
February 18, 1961
Image: USAF
Summary
Discoverer 21 launched on an United States Air Force Thor DM-21 Agena-B from Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on February 18, 1961. It was United States Air Force's 41st launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 99th orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor DM-21 Agena-B · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 6th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight · 2nd this yearUnited States Air Force's 41st launch3rd this yearhumanity's 99th orbital launch attempt6th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Discoverer 21 carried no reconnaissance camera; it was flown to demonstrate restarting the Agena engine in orbit and to test infrared sensors for the MIDAS missile-warning programme. It reached a near-polar orbit and decayed in April 1962.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
10th launch from Space Launch Complex 1E, 1st this year · 23rd from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
45 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
60 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Discoverer 21 launch?
Discoverer 21 launched on February 18, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Discoverer 21?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Discoverer 21?
Thor DM-21 Agena-B, flown by United States Air Force. Thor DM-21 Agena-B spec sheet
Where did Discoverer 21 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Discoverer 21 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a test flight mission.