MISSION NAME
Discoverer 11 11
Status
Success
DATE
15 APR 1960
LAUNCH PROVIDER
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 1E
Description
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.
Thor Agena A
Rocket Description
Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles. The rockets used Thor first stages and Agena second stages. They are thus cousins of the more-famous Thor-Deltas, which founded the Delta rocket family.