United States Air ForceThor DM-21 Agena-BSpace Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Discoverer 33
Launched
October 23, 1961
Image: USAF
Summary
Discoverer 33 launched on an United States Air Force Thor DM-21 Agena-B from Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 23, 1961. The mission failed: Failed to reach orbit. It was United States Air Force's 63rd launch, 25th this year and humanity's 130th orbital launch attempt. It was the 18th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight and the 14th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Result
- Failed to reach orbit
- 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
- 18th Thor DM-21 Agena-B flight · 14th this yearUnited States Air Force's 63rd launch25th this yearhumanity's 130th orbital launch attempt37th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Discoverer 33 was a US Air Force Corona KH-2 reconnaissance satellite. A hydraulics failure in the Agena-B caused the engine to shut down early and the satellite did not reach orbit.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
14th launch from Space Launch Complex 1E, 5th this year · 38th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
45 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
40 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Discoverer 33 launch?
Discoverer 33 launched on October 23, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why did Discoverer 33 fail?
Failed to reach orbit.
Where can I watch Discoverer 33?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Discoverer 33?
Thor DM-21 Agena-B, flown by United States Air Force. Thor DM-21 Agena-B spec sheet
Where did Discoverer 33 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Discoverer 33 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.