# Corona 96
**Wikidata**: [Q9196310](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9196310)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona-96

## Summary
Corona 96 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched on June 9, 1965, as part of the Corona Cold War surveillance program. It was deployed from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 using a Thor-Agena D rocket to covertly gather intelligence data.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 9, 1965
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Agena D
- **SCN Identifier**: 01396
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-045A
- **Primary Function**: Reconnaissance satellite for intelligence/military data collection
- **Program**: Corona satellite surveillance series
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Has an article in Polish (pl)

## FAQs
### Q: What was Corona 96’s mission?
A: Corona 96 was designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military and national security applications during the Cold War, enabling surveillance without risking human pilots.

### Q: Where and when was Corona 96 launched?
A: It launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 on June 9, 1965, aboard a Thor-Agena D rocket.

### Q: How was Corona 96 identified?
A: It carried the serial number SCN 01396 and the COSPAR designation 1965-045A for tracking and cataloging.

### Q: Why is Corona 96 historically significant?
A: As part of the Corona program, it contributed to the first sustained U.S. satellite surveillance operations, revolutionizing Cold War intelligence gathering.

## Why It Matters
Corona 96 exemplifies the technological and strategic evolution of Cold War reconnaissance, enabling unprecedented, risk-free surveillance of adversarial activities. As part of the Corona program (the first operational U.S. spy satellite series), it provided critical intelligence that informed military and diplomatic decisions, directly impacting arms control verification and crisis management. The satellite’s success validated space-based reconnaissance as a cornerstone of modern national security, laying groundwork for contemporary Earth observation systems. Corona 96’s launch demonstrated the viability of routine orbital intelligence collection, fundamentally altering global power dynamics during a critical period of superpower tension.

## Notable For
- **Cold War Surveillance**: Part of the pioneering Corona program, the first U.S. reconnaissance satellite series.
- **Thor-Agena D Launch**: Deployed using a Thor-Agena D rocket, a key vehicle for early U.S. orbital missions.
- **Vandenberg Origins**: Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, the primary West Coast spaceport for reconnaissance satellites.
- **Serial Identification**: Assigned SCN 01396 under the Corona satellite numbering system.
- **Polish Wikipedia Presence**: One of the few Corona satellites with a dedicated Polish-language Wikipedia entry.

## Body
### Launch Profile
- **Date**: June 9, 1965
- **Location**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, California
- **Vehicle**: Thor-Agena D launch rocket

### Technical Identification
- **SCN**: 01396 (Corona serial number)
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-045A (international designation)
- **Class**: Reconnaissance satellite

### Program Context
- Corona 96 operated under the Corona program, a joint CIA/US Air Force initiative for Cold War intelligence gathering.
- Mission focused on covert military reconnaissance without overflight risks.
- Launched during a peak period of U.S.-Soviet tensions (1965), emphasizing strategic surveillance needs.

### Knowledge Base Presence
- Limited documentation: Only 1 sitelink recorded.
- Wikipedia coverage exists exclusively in Polish (pl), reflecting niche historical documentation.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report