# Corona 60

> American reconnaissance satellite lost in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q9196250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9196250)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona-60

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Corona 60**:

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## Summary  
Corona 60 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963 as part of the Corona program. It was lost during launch due to a failure of its Thor-Agena D rocket. The satellite was also known by multiple designations, including KH-4 19 and Discoverer 60.

## Key Facts  
- **Official name**: Corona 60 (aliases: Discoverer 60, KH-4 19, Mission 9052, Red Vino 2, OPS 0583, Corona M-20)  
- **Type**: Reconnaissance satellite (classified as KH-4 under the Corona program)  
- **Launch date**: February 28, 1963, at 21:48:30 UTC  
- **Launch site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 East  
- **Launch vehicle**: Thor-Agena D (serial number 354/1159)  
- **Outcome**: Mission failure due to launch vehicle malfunction  
- **Primary purpose**: Covert intelligence data collection for military applications  
- **Program**: Part of the Corona satellite series, a Cold War-era U.S. reconnaissance initiative  

## FAQs  
### Q: Why did Corona 60 fail?  
A: Corona 60 was lost due to a launch failure of its Thor-Agena D rocket shortly after liftoff.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Corona 60?  
A: It was designed to collect photographic intelligence for U.S. military and intelligence agencies during the Cold War.  

### Q: What other names was Corona 60 known by?  
A: It had multiple designations, including KH-4 19, Discoverer 60, OPS 0583, and Mission 9052, reflecting its classification under different naming systems.  

## Why It Matters  
Corona 60 was part of the Corona program, the first U.S. satellite reconnaissance effort, which played a critical role during the Cold War by providing overhead imagery of Soviet military installations. Though this mission failed, the broader program significantly advanced satellite espionage technology, later declassified and recognized as foundational to modern space-based surveillance. Its loss underscored the technical challenges of early space launches while contributing to iterative improvements in rocket reliability.  

## Notable For  
- **Multiple designations**: Reflecting its dual civilian-military classification (e.g., Discoverer 60 for public cover, KH-4 19 for intelligence use).  
- **Cold War significance**: Part of a groundbreaking program that pioneered satellite reconnaissance.  
- **Launch vehicle**: Used the Thor-Agena D, a workhorse rocket for early U.S. spy satellites.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Corona 60 was the 19th satellite in the KH-4 series, a sub-type of the Corona program.  
- Its intended orbit was likely low Earth orbit (exact parameters classified).  

### Launch Details  
- **Date/time**: February 28, 1963, at 21:48:30 UTC.  
- **Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 East, a primary launch site for U.S. reconnaissance missions.  
- **Vehicle**: Thor-Agena D, a two-stage rocket combining a Thor ballistic missile with an Agena upper stage.  

### Failure Analysis  
- The mission failed during the launch phase, though specific technical causes remain classified.  
- Serial number 354/1159 suggests it was among later Thor-Agena D configurations.  

### Program Context  
- Corona satellites returned film capsules to Earth via parachute for analysis; Corona 60 never reached orbit to attempt this.  
- The KH-4 series improved resolution and mission duration over earlier Corona models.  

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report