KH-4B (original) (raw)

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KH-4B

Part of WS-117

KH-4B cutaway
Credit: CIA

American military surveillance satellite. Early US reconnaissance satellite. Carried two 'J-3' panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 1.8 m. Reconnaissance, photo (film return type) satellite built by Lockheed for USAF, USA. Launched 1967 - 1972.

Status: Operational 1967. First Launch: 1967-09-15. Last Launch: 1972-05-25. Number: 24 . Gross mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb).

Ground swath was 16 km x 217 km. Also carried a DISIC (Dual Improved Stellar Index) camera, with a focal length of 91 cm, a ground resolution of 30 m, and frame coverage of 260 km x 260 km.

More at: KH-4B.

Family: Military surveillance sat, Surveillance, Surveillance orbit. Country: USA. Engines: Star 12. Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, Thorad SLV-2H Agena D. Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC1W, Vandenberg SLC3W. Agency: USAF, Lockheed. Bibliography: 126, 172, 2, 279, 498, 6, 6622, 12721.

Photo Gallery

	KH-4B 1105Credit: Manufacturer Image

1967 September 15 - . 19:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1101 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1101 / Agena D 1641 / OPS 5089. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1967-10-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 2946 . COSPAR: 1967-087A. Apogee: 372 km (231 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 80.00 deg. Period: 89.70 min. KH-4B. First mission of the KH-4B series. Best film to date..

1967 December 9 - . 22:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1102 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1102 / Agena D 1642 / OPS 1001. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1967-12-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 3063 . COSPAR: 1967-122A. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Perigee: 151 km (93 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 88.40 min. KH-4B. Noticeable image smear for forward camera, but best imagery to date..

1968 May 1 - . 21:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1103 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1103 / OPS 1419. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1968-05-15 . USAF Sat Cat: 3228 . COSPAR: 1968-039B. Apogee: 243 km (150 mi). Perigee: 164 km (101 mi). Inclination: 83.10 deg. Period: 88.60 min. KH-4B. Out-of-focus imagery is present on both main camera records..
SRV 807 - . Payload: SRV 1103-1. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1968-05-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 3232 . COSPAR: 1968-039C. Apogee: 199 km (123 mi). Perigee: 142 km (88 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 87.90 min.

1968 August 7 - . 21:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1104 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1104 / Agena D 1644 / OPS 5955. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1968-08-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 3336 . COSPAR: 1968-065A. Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Inclination: 82.10 deg. Period: 88.70 min. KH-4B. Best imagery to date on any KH-4 systems. Bicolor and color infrared experiments were conducted on this mission..

1968 November 3 - . 21:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1105 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1105 / Agena D 1646 / OPS 1315. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1968-11-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 3531 . COSPAR: 1968-098A. Apogee: 288 km (178 mi). Perigee: 150 km (90 mi). Inclination: 82.20 deg. Period: 88.90 min. KH-4B. Image quality is variable and displays areas of soft focus and image smear..

1969 February 5 - . 21:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

KH-4B 1106 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1106 / Agena D 1650 / OPS 3890. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1969-02-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 3672 . COSPAR: 1969-010A. Apogee: 275 km (170 mi). Perigee: 147 km (91 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 88.70 min. KH-4B. The best image quality to date..
SRV 801R - . Payload: SRV 1106-1. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. COSPAR: 1969-010xx. Apogee: 275 km (170 mi). Perigee: 147 km (91 mi). Inclination: 81.60 deg. Period: 88.70 min.

1969 July 24 - . 01:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1107 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1107 / Agena D 1652 / OPS 3654. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1969-08-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 4050 . COSPAR: 1969-063A. Apogee: 203 km (126 mi). Perigee: 182 km (113 mi). Inclination: 74.90 deg. Period: 88.40 min. KH-4B. Forward camera failed on pass 1 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission..

1969 December 4 - . 21:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1108 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1108 / Agena D 1655 / OPS 6617. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1970-01-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 4264 . COSPAR: 1969-105A. Apogee: 229 km (142 mi). Perigee: 161 km (100 mi). Inclination: 81.40 deg. Period: 88.40 min. KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily and the mission carried 811 ft of aerial color film added to the end of the film supply..

1970 March 4 - . 22:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1109 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1109 / Agena D 1657 / OPS 0440. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1970-03-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 4342 . COSPAR: 1970-016A. Apogee: 257 km (159 mi). Perigee: 167 km (103 mi). Inclination: 88.00 deg. Period: 88.80 min. KH-4B. Cameras operated satisfactorily but the overall image quality of both the forward and aft records is variable..
OPS 3402 - . Payload: EHH B18. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1971-11-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 4343 . COSPAR: 1970-016B. Apogee: 509 km (316 mi). Perigee: 441 km (274 mi). Inclination: 88.10 deg. Period: 94.10 min. Radar monitoring; may or may not have existed!!!.

1970 May 20 - . 21:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1110 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1110 / Agena D 1656 / OPS 4720. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1970-06-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 4405 . COSPAR: 1970-040A. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi). Perigee: 162 km (100 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 88.60 min. KH-4B. The overall image quality is less than that provided by recent missions and 2,000 feet of S0-349.

1970 July 23 - . 01:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1111 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1111 / Agena D 1654 / OPS 4324. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1970-08-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 4477 . COSPAR: 1970-054A. Apogee: 379 km (235 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 59.90 deg. Period: 89.80 min. KH-4B. The overall image quality is good..

1970 November 18 - . 21:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1112 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1112 / Agena D 1658 / OPS 4992. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1970-12-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 4721 . COSPAR: 1970-098A. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi). Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 88.50 min. KH-4B. The forward camera failed on pass 104 and remained inoperative throughout the rest of the mission..
OPS 6829 - . Payload: EHH B20. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1977-09-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 4722 . COSPAR: 1970-098B. Apogee: 505 km (313 mi). Perigee: 493 km (306 mi). Inclination: 83.10 deg. Period: 94.60 min. Radar monitoring..

1971 February 17 - . 20:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.

KH-4B 1113 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1113. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1971-02-17 .
KH-4B. The launch vehicle had a very cold boattail due to a hose discovered to be leaking away warming air to the boattail. The boattail was colder than usual, below freezing. Based on earlier tests of the Thor for just that condition, as relayed by Ed Dierdorf, Thor chief engineer at the time, the temp low was of no concern.
The only problem was that those tests were made with a Thor that carried a Rocketdyne engine lubricated with "lube oil". The Thor being launched used a fuel additive, "Orinite" (like STP "super snot"). The technician that pumped the Orinite into its cannister later stated, "It wasn't for lack of orinite. I put it in just like the procedure said, and I could feel when it was full (with the hand pump). To make sure, I gave it another slug."
That "other slug" cracked the output valve that was only supposed to be cracked by turbopump output pressure. When it cracked the output valve a bit of the "honey" squirted down the tube toward engine bearing jets. This line had a low spot in it by design. The Orinite settled there. When it was chilled by the low temp air at lox loading, the Orinite formed a plug.
Unaware of this chain of circumstances, Launch Director Philip Payne made the decision to launch. The rocket (carrying Agena D and payload) flew for 18 seconds, then wiped out its gears, causing the turbine to overspeed and shed its vanes. These punctured various parts in the boattail like machine gun bullets. With loss of power, the rocket fell not far from the launch pad into Bear Creek canyon.
The final cause was therefore found to be loss of engine lubrication at startup.
SRV 825 - . Payload: SRV 1113-1. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B.
SRV 826 - . Payload: SRV 1113-2. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B.

1971 March 24 - . 21:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1114 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1114 / Agena D 1660 / OPS 5300. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1971-04-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 5059 . COSPAR: 1971-022A. Apogee: 245 km (152 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 81.50 deg. Period: 88.40 min. KH-4B. The overall image quality is good and comparable to the best of past missions. On-board program failed.

1971 September 10 - . 21:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1115 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1115 / Agena D 1662 / OPS 5454. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1971-10-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 5468 . COSPAR: 1971-076A. Apogee: 234 km (145 mi). Perigee: 157 km (97 mi). Inclination: 74.90 deg. Period: 88.30 min. KH-4B. Overall image quality is good..
OPS 7681 - . Payload: EHH B21. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1976-02-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 5469 . COSPAR: 1971-076B. Apogee: 516 km (320 mi). Perigee: 489 km (303 mi). Inclination: 75.00 deg. Period: 94.70 min. Radar monitoring..

1972 April 19 - . 21:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1116 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1116 / Agena D 1661 / OPS 5640. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1972-05-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 6003 . COSPAR: 1972-032A. Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Perigee: 154 km (95 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 88.80 min. KH-4B. Very successful mission and image quality was good..

1972 May 25 - . 18:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2H Agena D.

KH-4B 1117 - . Payload: KH-4B s/n 1117 / Agena D 1663 / OPS 6371. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4B. Decay Date: 1972-06-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 6037 . COSPAR: 1972-039A. Apogee: 305 km (189 mi). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 89.20 min. KH-4B. Last KH-4B mission. Very successful mission, image quality was good. Final CORONA mission..

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