# Corona 42
**Wikidata**: [Q9196224](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9196224)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona-42

## Summary
Corona 42 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched on May 30, 1962. Designed to covertly collect data for intelligence and military applications, it was deployed into orbit using a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle. The satellite is identified by the international designator 1962-021A and the alternate name 1962 Phi 1.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Instance of a reconnaissance satellite, a class of satellite used to covertly collect data for intelligence or military applications.
*   **Launch Date:** May 30, 1962.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Agena B, an American orbital launch vehicle.
*   **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1962-021A.
*   **Alternate Name:** 1962 Phi 1.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00302.
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1962-021A.
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/122ybdg5.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of Corona 42?
A: Corona 42 was a reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly collect data for intelligence and military applications.

### Q: When and where was Corona 42 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on May 30, 1962, from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Corona 42?
A: It was launched aboard a Thor-Agena B, an American orbital launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Corona 42 represents a specific mission within the broader scope of space-based intelligence gathering during the early 1960s. As a reconnaissance satellite, its significance lies in its capacity to covertly collect data, a vital capability for national security and military strategy during this era. By utilizing the Thor-Agena B launch vehicle, the mission contributed to the operational history of one of the United States' key orbital delivery systems.

The launch from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 underscores the site's role as a critical hub for placing reconnaissance assets into orbit. Missions like Corona 42 helped advance the technology and methodology of remote data collection, setting precedents for how intelligence is gathered from space. While specific details of the data collected are technical in nature, the entity itself serves as a historical marker for the evolution of military satellite technology.

## Notable For
*   **Covert Intelligence Gathering:** Designed specifically to collect data for military and intelligence applications.
*   **Thor-Agena B Deployment:** Utilized the established American Thor-Agena B orbital launch system.
*   **Vandenberg Launch:** Deployed from the strategic Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
*   **Dual Identification:** Recognized under the scientific identifier 1962 Phi 1 as well as its COSPAR ID.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Corona 42 is classified as a reconnaissance satellite. According to structural data, this class of satellite is defined by its ability to covertly collect data to support intelligence and military applications. The mission is cataloged in scientific records under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 00302 and the NSSDCA ID 1962-021A.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on May 30, 1962. The launch event was a significant operation involving specific logistical and technical parameters:
*   **Point of Departure:** The mission originated from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
*   **Delivery System:** The launch vehicle used was the Thor-Agena B, noted as an American orbital launch vehicle.

### Identifiers and Aliases
The entity is referenced across various databases using specific identifiers to ensure accurate tracking and historical cataloging:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1962-021A
*   **Alternate Name:** 1962 Phi 1
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/122ybdg5

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report