Corona (satellite)

Corona (satellite)
Name	Corona
Mission type	Optical reconnaissance satellite
Operator	National Reconnaissance Office and United States Air Force

Corona (satellite) was a series of United States optical reconnaissance satellites launched between 1959 and 1972, managed by the National Reconnaissance Office and United States Air Force. The program involved the development of satellite technology by Lockheed Corporation and Fairchild Camera and Instrument, with significant contributions from Stanford Research Institute and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Corona satellites played a crucial role in the Cold War, providing intelligence to the United States Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency.

Overview

The Corona program was initiated in response to the Sputnik crisis, with the goal of developing a space-based reconnaissance capability to gather intelligence on Soviet Union military activities. The program involved the launch of over 140 satellites, with the first successful launch occurring on August 19, 1960, using a Thor-Agena rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Corona satellites were designed to capture high-resolution photography of the Earth's surface, using film that was returned to Earth via a recovery capsule. The program was supported by NASA, United States Navy, and United States Army, with significant contributions from MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

History

The Corona program was established in 1958, with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) playing a key role in its development. The program was managed by the National Reconnaissance Office, with Richard M. Bissell serving as the first director. The Corona satellites were launched using Thor-Agena rockets, with the first launch occurring on February 28, 1959, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The program was supported by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy, with significant contributions from Congressional committees such as the House Committee on Science and Technology and Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. The Corona program was also influenced by the U-2 incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the United States Department of State and United States Department of Defense playing key roles in its development.

Design_and_Operation

The Corona satellites were designed to capture high-resolution photography of the Earth's surface, using film that was returned to Earth via a recovery capsule. The satellites were equipped with telemetry systems, developed by MIT Instrumentation Laboratory and Stanford Research Institute, which allowed for real-time monitoring of the satellite's performance. The Corona satellites were launched into polar orbit, with an altitude of around 100 miles, and were designed to operate for several days. The satellites were powered by solar panels, developed by Hughes Aircraft Company and TRW Inc., and used nickel-cadmium batteries for backup power. The Corona program was supported by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and United States Naval Research Laboratory, with significant contributions from University of California, Berkeley and California Institute of Technology.

Launch_and_Mission

The first successful launch of a Corona satellite occurred on August 19, 1960, using a Thor-Agena rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The satellite, designated as Discoverer 14, captured over 1,000 photographs of the Earth's surface before returning to Earth via a recovery capsule. The Corona program involved the launch of over 140 satellites, with the final launch occurring on May 25, 1972. The program was supported by NASA's Kennedy Space Center and United States Air Force Space Command, with significant contributions from Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Corona satellites played a crucial role in the Cold War, providing intelligence to the United States Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency.

Significance_and_Legacy

The Corona program played a significant role in the Cold War, providing intelligence to the United States Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency. The program demonstrated the feasibility of space-based reconnaissance and paved the way for the development of future spy satellite programs, such as Landsat and Keyhole. The Corona program also contributed to the development of civilian remote sensing programs, such as NASA's Earth Observing System and European Space Agency's Copernicus programme. The Corona satellites were declassified in 1995, with many of the photographs captured by the satellites being released to the public. The program's legacy continues to be felt, with many of the technologies developed during the Corona program being used in modern space-based reconnaissance systems, such as National Reconnaissance Office's Future Imagery Architecture program.

Technical_Specifications

The Corona satellites were equipped with photographic cameras, developed by Eastman Kodak and PerkinElmer, which captured high-resolution photography of the Earth's surface. The satellites used film that was returned to Earth via a recovery capsule, with the film being processed by Kodak and NASA's Johnson Space Center. The Corona satellites were powered by solar panels, developed by Hughes Aircraft Company and TRW Inc., and used nickel-cadmium batteries for backup power. The satellites were launched into polar orbit, with an altitude of around 100 miles, and were designed to operate for several days. The Corona satellites were supported by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and United States Naval Research Laboratory, with significant contributions from University of Michigan and Purdue University.

Category:Satellites