# Corona 44
**Wikidata**: [Q9196229](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9196229)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona-44

## Summary
Corona 44 was a U.S. reconnaissance satellite launched on June 23, 1962, as part of the classified Corona program. It was designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military applications. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 using a Thor-Agena B rocket.

## Key Facts
- Launched on June 23, 1962, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1
- Classified as a reconnaissance satellite for intelligence and military applications
- Launched using a Thor-Agena B orbital launch vehicle
- Assigned COSPAR ID 1962-026A and satellite catalog number 00315
- Part of the U.S. Corona program, which operated from 1959 to 1972
- Featured a significant rocket launch event at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 on June 23, 1962
- Has Wikipedia presence in Polish language

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Corona 44?
A: Corona 44 was a reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military and intelligence applications as part of the U.S. Corona program.

### Q: When and how was Corona 44 launched?
A: Corona 44 was launched on June 23, 1962, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 using a Thor-Agena B rocket.

### Q: What type of satellite was Corona 44?
A: Corona 44 was classified as a reconnaissance satellite, specifically designed for intelligence gathering and military applications.

## Why It Matters
Corona 44 represents a significant milestone in the development of space-based reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War era. As part of the Corona program, it contributed to the United States' ability to gather intelligence on potential adversaries without risking human lives in spy missions. The program provided crucial photographic intelligence that helped inform U.S. military and political decision-making during a critical period of international tension. The success of Corona 44 and its sister satellites demonstrated the viability of using space technology for national security purposes, paving the way for modern satellite reconnaissance systems that continue to play vital roles in global security today.

## Notable For
- First generation of U.S. photographic reconnaissance satellites
- Operated during the height of Cold War tensions
- Pioneered the use of film-return capsules for satellite reconnaissance
- Contributed to the development of space-based intelligence gathering
- Part of the longest-running intelligence satellite program in history (1959-1972)

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Corona 44 was launched using a Thor-Agena B rocket, a two-stage vehicle that combined a Thor missile first stage with an Agena B upper stage. This launch vehicle was specifically designed for polar orbit missions from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

### Mission Profile
The satellite was placed into a polar orbit, allowing it to photograph targets across the entire globe as the Earth rotated beneath its path. Like other Corona satellites, Corona 44 likely used a film-based camera system that captured images and then ejected recovery capsules containing the film for mid-air retrieval.

### Program Context
Corona 44 was part of a larger program that included numerous satellite missions over more than a decade. The Corona program was the first successful reconnaissance satellite program, operating in complete secrecy until its declassification in 1995. These satellites provided the first high-resolution photographs of denied areas, including the Soviet Union and China, during a period when aerial reconnaissance was becoming increasingly dangerous.

### Legacy
The technology and operational concepts developed for Corona 44 and its sister satellites laid the groundwork for all subsequent U.S. reconnaissance satellite programs. The program's success demonstrated that space-based intelligence gathering could provide reliable, actionable information to national security decision-makers, fundamentally changing how nations approach intelligence collection and analysis.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report