# Discoverer 18

> reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q81861](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81861)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoverer_18)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/discoverer-18

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Discoverer 18**:

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## Summary  
Discoverer 18 was a reconnaissance satellite launched by the United States in 1960 as part of a covert intelligence-gathering program. It was designed to collect military data and was launched aboard a Thor-Agena B rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1. The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere on April 2, 1961.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: December 7, 1960 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Agena B ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367))  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1960-018A ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855))  
- **Decay Date**: April 2, 1961 ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855))  
- **Mission Type**: Reconnaissance satellite ([reference](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855))  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: `Entity["Satellite", "00067"]`  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Discoverer 18?  
A: Discoverer 18 was a reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly collect military and intelligence data for the United States during the Cold War.  

### Q: When did Discoverer 18 launch and decay?  
A: It launched on December 7, 1960, and re-entered Earth's atmosphere on April 2, 1961.  

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Discoverer 18?  
A: It was launched aboard a Thor-Agena B orbital launch vehicle.  

## Why It Matters  
Discoverer 18 was part of an early U.S. effort to develop space-based reconnaissance capabilities during the Cold War. These missions provided critical intelligence at a time when aerial surveillance was risky and limited. The success of such satellites laid the groundwork for modern spy satellites, which play a key role in national security. Discoverer 18's launch also demonstrated advancements in rocket technology, particularly the Thor-Agena B's reliability for orbital missions.  

## Notable For  
- One of the earliest U.S. reconnaissance satellites.  
- Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a key Cold War-era military site.  
- Part of a series of missions that pioneered space-based intelligence gathering.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Discoverer 18 was a classified reconnaissance satellite operated by the United States.  
- Its primary function was to collect photographic intelligence from orbit.  

### Launch and Deployment  
- **Launch Date**: December 7, 1960  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Agena B  
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1  

### Orbit and Decay  
- **Orbit Duration**: Approximately 4 months  
- **Decay Date**: April 2, 1961  

### Technical Specifications  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1960-018A  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1960-018A  
- **Wolfram Entity Code**: `Entity["Satellite", "00067"]`  

### Legacy  
- Contributed to early advancements in satellite reconnaissance.  
- Demonstrated the feasibility of orbital intelligence collection.  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication. Let me know if further refinements are needed!

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013