Discoverer 23 (KH-5 Argon mission 9016A), a U.S. film-return area-survey reconnaissance satellite launched from Vandenberg. It reached LEO, but on deorbit the recovery vehicle SRV-521 fired the wrong way, boosting itself into a higher orbit; the capsule was never recovered.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- LEO
- Low Earth orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 311 kg
- Flight
- 8th
- of 40 Thor DM-21 Agena-B flights
- Date and time
- 8 April 1961, 19:21 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor DM-21 Agena-B
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Government/Top Secret
- International designator
- 1961-011
- Launches in 1961
- 13th of 50
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
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