United States Air ForceThor DM-21 Agena-BSpace Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Discoverer 28
Launched
August 4, 1961
Image: USAF
Summary
Discoverer 28 launched on an United States Air Force Thor DM-21 Agena-B from Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on August 4, 1961. The mission failed: Second stage control system malfunction. It was United States Air Force's 53rd launch, 15th this year and humanity's 118th orbital launch attempt. It was the 13th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight and the 9th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Result
- Second stage control system malfunction.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor DM-21 Agena-B · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 13th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight · 9th this yearUnited States Air Force's 53rd launch15th this yearhumanity's 118th orbital launch attempt25th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Discoverer 28 was a US Air Force Corona KH-2 reconnaissance satellite. The Agena-B's guidance and control system malfunctioned and the satellite failed to reach orbit.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
15th launch from Space Launch Complex 1W, 5th this year · 31st from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
56 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
13 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Discoverer 28 launch?
Discoverer 28 launched on August 4, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why did Discoverer 28 fail?
Second stage control system malfunction.
Where can I watch Discoverer 28?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Discoverer 28?
Thor DM-21 Agena-B, flown by United States Air Force. Thor DM-21 Agena-B spec sheet
Where did Discoverer 28 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Discoverer 28 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.