# Discoverer 12

> reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q906145](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q906145)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoverer_12)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/discoverer-12

## Summary  
Discoverer 12 was a United States reconnaissance satellite and part of the Corona program, launched on June 29, 1960. It was designed for strategic intelligence gathering during the Cold War but suffered a launch failure.  

## Key Facts  
- Launched on June 29, 1960, at 22:00:44 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 West  
- Instance of the Corona class of American strategic reconnaissance satellites  
- Launch vehicle: Thor-Agena A (serial number 160/1053)  
- Mass: 790 kilograms  
- Diameter: 1.52 meters  
- NSSDCA ID: DISC12  
- Suffered a launch failure on the same day as its intended launch  
- Operated by the United States  
- Image available via Wikimedia Commons  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Discoverer 12 used for?  
A: Discoverer 12 was a reconnaissance satellite developed under the Corona program to conduct strategic surveillance for the United States during the Cold War.  

### Q: When was Discoverer 12 launched?  
A: Discoverer 12 was launched on June 29, 1960. However, the mission ended in failure shortly after liftoff.  

### Q: What caused the failure of Discoverer 12?  
A: According to NASA records, Discoverer 12 experienced a launch failure on June 29, 1960, preventing successful orbital insertion.  

## Why It Matters  
Discoverer 12 represents an early attempt in the United States' efforts to deploy space-based reconnaissance capabilities during the height of the Cold War. As part of the classified Corona program, it contributed to the development of critical intelligence-gathering technologies that would later become essential for national security. Although it failed to achieve orbit, its design and mission profile laid groundwork for future successful Corona missions, which played pivotal roles in monitoring Soviet activities and shaping U.S. defense strategies.  

## Notable For  
- Part of the historic Corona reconnaissance satellite program  
- One of the earliest U.S. attempts at orbital spy satellite deployment  
- First use of the Thor-Agena A launch vehicle with serial number 160/1053  
- Demonstrated early challenges in achieving reliable space-based surveillance systems  
- Failed launch highlights risks and technical hurdles faced in early space programs  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Discoverer 12 was a reconnaissance satellite belonging to the Corona program, a series of American strategic imaging satellites initiated during the Cold War. Its primary objective was to capture photographic intelligence from orbit, contributing to U.S. military and geopolitical awareness.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass**: 790 kg  
- **Diameter**: 1.52 m  
- **NSSDCA Identifier**: DISC12  
- **Image Source**: Agena-A Discoverer variant (via Wikimedia Commons)  

### Launch Details  
- **Launch Date**: June 29, 1960  
- **Launch Time**: 22:00:44 UTC  
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 West  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Agena A  
  - Serial Number: 160/1053  

### Outcome  
Despite being successfully launched, Discoverer 12 encountered a malfunction resulting in a launch failure, preventing it from reaching operational orbit. The event is documented by NASA's National Space Science Data Center.  

### Historical Context  
As part of the Corona program, Discoverer 12 reflects the technological ambitions and strategic priorities of the early U.S. space effort. Though unsuccessful, it underscores the iterative nature of developing complex aerospace systems during the formative years of human space exploration and surveillance technology.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=DISC12)