Discoverer 13 (Corona diagnostic test), a KH-1 recovery-system pathfinder without an operational camera, launched on a Thor Agena-A from Vandenberg on 10 August 1960. After 17 orbits its SRV, carrying an American flag, was recovered from the Pacific—the first man-made object returned from orbit.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- LEO
- Low Earth orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 208 kg
- Flight
- 13th
- of 15 Thor Agena A flights
- Date and time
- 10 August 1960, 20:37 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor Agena A
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Government/Top Secret
- International designator
- 1960-008
- Launches in 1960
- 17th of 38
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
Object pages on Space Atlas: DISCOVERER 13
View satellites in Space Atlas