# Corona

> series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites

**Wikidata**: [Q256812](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q256812)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CORONA_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/corona

## Summary
Corona was a series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites operated from 1959 to 1972. It was the first successful satellite program designed to covertly collect intelligence imagery for military and government use.

## Key Facts
- Launched in June 1959 and operated until 1972.
- Developed and operated by the United States.
- Part of the broader class of reconnaissance satellites.
- Used the Thor rocket family as its launch vehicle.
- Also known as the Discoverer program.
- Included specific missions like Corona 112 and KH-4A series (e.g., KH-4A 1024–1031, 1033).
- Classified as both a spacecraft fleet and a military project.
- Differentiated from other entities named "Corona" (e.g., the beer brand).

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Corona satellite program?
A: The Corona program was designed to conduct strategic reconnaissance, collecting intelligence imagery for military and government applications during the Cold War.

### Q: When did the Corona program operate?
A: The program ran from June 1959 to 1972.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Corona satellites?
A: The Thor rocket family (PGM-17 Thor) was the primary launch vehicle for Corona satellites.

### Q: Were there any notable missions in the Corona program?
A: Yes, specific missions included Corona 112 and the KH-4A series (e.g., KH-4A 1024–1031, 1033), as well as earlier Discoverer satellites like Discoverer 12 and Discoverer 22.

### Q: How was Corona different from other reconnaissance programs?
A: Corona was the first successful satellite-based reconnaissance program, paving the way for modern intelligence-gathering satellites.

## Why It Matters
The Corona program was a groundbreaking achievement in space-based intelligence gathering. During the Cold War, it provided the U.S. with critical photographic reconnaissance capabilities, allowing for the monitoring of Soviet military activities and other strategic targets. Before Corona, intelligence relied heavily on risky manned flights (e.g., U-2 spy planes), which were vulnerable to detection and interception. By successfully deploying satellites to capture high-resolution imagery from space, Corona revolutionized military intelligence, enhancing national security and informing policy decisions. Its legacy laid the foundation for subsequent reconnaissance satellite programs, shaping modern surveillance and geospatial intelligence.

## Notable For
- Being the first successful strategic reconnaissance satellite program.
- Operating covertly during the Cold War to gather intelligence on Soviet activities.
- Using the Thor rocket family for launches, a key American rocket system.
- Including the KH-4A series, which conducted multiple missions (e.g., KH-4A 1024–1031, 1033).
- Also known as the Discoverer program, with early missions like Discoverer 12 and Discoverer 22.

## Body
### Overview
Corona was a classified U.S. satellite program designed for strategic reconnaissance. It operated from 1959 to 1972, providing photographic intelligence during the Cold War.

### Launch and Operations
- **Launch Vehicle**: The program used the Thor rocket family (PGM-17 Thor) to deploy its satellites.
- **Mission Duration**: The program spanned over a decade, from June 1959 to 1972.
- **Satellite Series**: Included multiple iterations, such as the KH-4A series (e.g., KH-4A 1024–1031, 1033) and earlier Discoverer satellites (e.g., Discoverer 12, Discoverer 22).

### Technical Details
- **Classification**: Corona satellites were part of the reconnaissance satellite class, specifically designed for covert intelligence collection.
- **Program Aliases**: Also referred to as the Discoverer program or Corona program.
- **Participants**: Exclusively operated by the United States.

### Legacy
Corona's success demonstrated the feasibility of space-based reconnaissance, leading to the development of more advanced satellite systems. It played a crucial role in Cold War intelligence, reducing reliance on manned surveillance flights.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Corona",
  "description": "A series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites operated from 1959 to 1972.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q328",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CORONA_(satellite)"
  ],
  "additionalType": "http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q188915"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel