Discoverer 17
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 | |
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force / NRO |
| Harvard designation | 1960 Omicron 1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1960-015A |
| SATCAT no. | 00061 |
| Mission duration | 2 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Corona KH-2 |
| Bus | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Launch mass | 1,091 kilograms (2,405 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 November 1960, 20:38:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Thor DM-21 Agena-B (Thor 297) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, LC 75-3-5 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 29 December 1960 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 190 kilometers (120 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 984 kilometers (611 mi) |
| Inclination | 81.8° |
| Period | 96.45 minutes |
Discoverer 17, also known as Corona 9012, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 12 November 1960 at 20:38:00 GMT. It was the second of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.[1]
Discoverer 17 was the second of the KH-2 Corona spy satellites, which was distinguished from the predecessor KH-1 series in its incorporation of the improved C' camera, which replaced the C model carried on KH-1 missions. The improved camera had variable image motion compensation so that its carrying satellites could be flown in differing orbits. Like the C camera, the C' was manufactured by Fairchild Camera and Instrument under the supervision of Itek,[2]: 63–64 a defense contractor that specialized in making cameras for spy satellites.[2]: 34 The satellite also carried a Transit on Discoverer (TOD) payload[3]
Discoverer 16, the first of the KH-2 series, had failed to reach orbit after its launch on 26 October 1960.[3]
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