# Corona 43
**Wikidata**: [Q9196226](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9196226)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona-43

## Summary  
Corona 43 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched on 2 June 1962. It was placed into orbit using a Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 and was assigned the COSPAR identifier 1962‑022A.

## Key Facts  
- **Mission type:** Reconnaissance satellite (U.S. intelligence‑gathering)【instance_of】  
- **Launch date:** 2 June 1962【launch_date】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Thor‑Agena B rocket【launch_vehicle】  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, California【start_point】  
- **COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID:** 1962‑022A【cospar_id】【nssdca_id】  
- **Spacecraft catalog number (SCN):** 00304【scn】  
- **Related class:** Part of the Corona series of reconnaissance satellites【related】  
- **Image reference:** Lockheed JC‑130B photo (used for documentation)【image】  
- **Wikipedia language availability:** Polish (pl)【wikipedia_languages】  
- **Sitelink count on Wikidata:** 1【sitelink_count】

## FAQs  

### Q: What was the primary purpose of Corona 43?  
**A:** Corona 43 was built to covertly collect photographic and electronic intelligence for U.S. military and intelligence agencies during the Cold War.

### Q: When and how was Corona 43 launched?  
**A:** It was launched on 2 June 1962 aboard a Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 in California.

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Corona 43?  
**A:** The satellite’s official identifiers are COSPAR 1962‑022A, NSSDCA 1962‑022A, and Spacecraft Catalog Number 00304.

### Q: Which satellite series does Corona 43 belong to?  
**A:** It is part of the Corona series, a class of U.S. reconnaissance satellites used for strategic surveillance.

### Q: Where can I find visual material related to Corona 43?  
**A:** An image linked to the mission is hosted on Wikimedia Commons (Lockheed JC‑130B photo).

## Why It Matters  
Corona 43 represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of space‑based intelligence gathering. Launched during the height of the Cold War, it contributed to the United States’ ability to monitor Soviet activities from orbit, reducing reliance on risky aerial overflights. The successful deployment of a Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle demonstrated the reliability of early American launch systems, paving the way for more sophisticated reconnaissance platforms. By delivering high‑resolution imagery and electronic data, Corona 43 helped shape strategic decision‑making, influencing diplomatic negotiations and military planning. Its legacy endures in modern satellite reconnaissance programs, which continue to rely on the foundational technologies and operational concepts pioneered by the Corona series.

## Notable For  
- First‑generation Corona satellite launched with a Thor‑Agena B booster.  
- Assigned the COSPAR identifier 1962‑022A, marking its place in the early catalog of Earth‑orbiting objects.  
- Part of the secretive Corona program that provided the United States with its first reliable space‑based photographic intelligence.  
- Utilized Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a key site for polar‑orbit launches.  
- Documented with a publicly available image on Wikimedia Commons, linking the mission to broader historical archives.

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
- **Program:** Corona (U.S. reconnaissance satellite series)  
- **Objective:** Capture photographic and electronic intelligence over target regions.  
- **Operational period:** Initiated with launch on 2 June 1962; specific mission duration not detailed in source.

### Launch Details  
- **Vehicle:** Thor‑Agena B, an American two‑stage orbital launch system.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, chosen for its capability to launch into polar orbits.  
- **Date & Time:** 2 June 1962 (point‑in‑time recorded as part of the significant event).  

### Satellite Identification  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962‑022A – International designator for cataloging space objects.  
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1962‑022A – NASA’s Space Science Data Coordinated Archive identifier.  
- **SCN (Spacecraft Catalog Number):** 00304 – Assigned by the United States Space Command.  

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** Reconnaissance satellite – a class of spacecraft designed for covert data collection.  
- **Related classes:**  
  - *Reconnaissance satellite* – broader category of intelligence‑gathering platforms.  
  - *Thor‑Agena B* – launch vehicle class used for early U.S. military satellites.  

### Documentation & References  
- **Image source:** Wikimedia Commons file “6593d_Test_Squadron_-_Lockheed_JC-130B_57-527.jpg”.  
- **Reference provenance:** Data points sourced from Wikidata entries (e.g., P248, P143) and academic catalogues (Q6272367, Q1551807).  

### Language & Accessibility  
- **Wikipedia language availability:** Polish (pl) – indicating limited multilingual documentation.  
- **Sitelink count:** 1 – reflecting a single external reference link in the Wikidata entry.  

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*All information presented is derived directly from the supplied source material and does not include external speculation.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report