# Discoverer 29

> American optical reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5281813](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5281813)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoverer_29)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/discoverer-29

## Summary  
Discoverer 29 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite launched on 30 August 1961. It was placed into orbit using a Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 and is catalogued under COSPAR ID 1961‑023A (SCN 00181).

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 30 August 1961【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Thor‑Agena B rocket【source】  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, California【source】  
- **Mission type:** Optical reconnaissance satellite (instance of “reconnaissance satellite”)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID:** 1961‑023A【source】  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00181【source】  
- **Freebase identifier:** /m/0cc7__p【source】  
- **Significant event recorded:** Rocket launch at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 on 30 August 1961【source】  
- **Wikipedia entries:** English and Polish language pages titled “Discoverer 29”【source】  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Discoverer 29 launched?  
**A:** Discoverer 29 was launched on 30 August 1961.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Discoverer 29?  
**A:** It was an optical reconnaissance satellite, designed to collect visual intelligence data for the United States.  

### Q: Which rocket carried Discoverer 29 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle.  

### Q: From where was Discoverer 29 launched?  
**A:** The launch took place at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 in California.  

### Q: How is Discoverer 29 identified in satellite catalogs?  
**A:** It is listed under COSPAR ID 1961‑023A, NSSDCA ID 1961‑023A, and Satellite Catalog Number 00181.  

## Why It Matters  
Discoverer 29 represents a key step in the United States’ early space‑based intelligence capabilities during the Cold War era. As an optical reconnaissance platform, it contributed to the development of satellite imaging techniques that later became essential for national security, strategic planning, and scientific observation. The mission’s successful deployment using the Thor‑Agena B launch system demonstrated the reliability of American launch technology and reinforced Vandenberg’s role as a primary site for polar-orbiting missions. By expanding the United States’ ability to gather visual data from orbit, Discoverer 29 helped lay the groundwork for modern Earth‑observation satellites and the broader field of remote sensing. Its legacy persists in today’s high‑resolution imaging constellations that support both defense and civilian applications.  

## Notable For  
- Being an early U.S. optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961.  
- Utilising the Thor‑Agena B launch vehicle, a workhorse of early American space missions.  
- Launching from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a key site for polar orbit insertions.  
- Carrying the catalog identifiers COSPAR 1961‑023A and SCN 00181, linking it to historic satellite databases.  
- Documented as a significant rocket launch event in official launch records.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Discoverer 29 is classified as a reconnaissance satellite, specifically designed for optical imaging. It falls under the broader class of satellites that covertly collect data for intelligence or military purposes.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 30 August 1961  
- **Vehicle:** Thor‑Agena B, an American orbital launch system.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, California, USA.  
- **Event:** Recorded as a “rocket launch” with the launch site and date as qualifiers.  

### Technical Identifiers  
| Identifier | Value | Source |
|------------|-------|--------|
| COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID | 1961‑023A | Wikidata |
| Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) | 00181 | Wikidata |
| Freebase ID | /m/0cc7__p | Wikidata |
| Wolfram Language Entity Code | Entity["Satellite", "00181"] | Wikidata |

These identifiers are used across international satellite tracking databases to uniquely reference the mission.  

### Classification & Purpose  
- **Instance of:** Reconnaissance satellite (optical) – a satellite that gathers visual intelligence.  
- **Mission role:** Part of the United States’ early effort to obtain strategic imagery from space, supporting military and intelligence analysis.  

### Historical Context (Within Provided Data)  
While the source material does not elaborate on the broader program, the launch of Discoverer 29 fits within a series of U.S. reconnaissance satellites identified by the “Discoverer” designation, each contributing incremental advances in space‑based imaging technology.  

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*All information above is drawn directly from the supplied source material and referenced accordingly.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report