Discoverer 14 (KH-1 9)

USA

Orig.PL Name: CORONA 9009

Launch data:

Designation00054 / 1960 Kappa 1 / 60010A
Launch date18 Aout 1960 - 19:57 UT
Launch siteVa, LC75-3 pad 4
Launch vehicle Thor-DM18 Agena-A (#237)
Mission 
Earth orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee 186 / 805 km
Inclination 79,65°
Period 94,55 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor  
Customer  
Platform  
Mass at launch  700 kg
Dry Mass  kg
Basic shape  
Dimension  
Solar array  
Stabilization  
DC power  

Decay:

Descent date: 16 sep 1960
Lifetime: 

Mission details:

Discoverer 14 (also known as KH-1 9009) was a spy satellite used in the Corona program managed by DARPA and the United States Air Force.
On 19 aug 1960 was the capsule (61003 / Kappa 1) wich usable photographic film images, taken by the satellite, recovered by a C-119 recovery aircraft. This was the first succesful recovery of film from a orbiting satellite and the first mid-air recovery of an object returning from Earth orbit.
Ref.:#1, #7, #98, #120 - update: 14.03.04