# Discoverer 38
**Wikidata**: [Q9207770](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9207770)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/discoverer-38

## Summary
Discoverer 38 is an American reconnaissance satellite launched on February 27, 1962, for the purpose of covertly collecting intelligence and military data. It was placed into orbit from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 using a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Reconnaissance satellite
- **Launch Date:** February 27, 1962
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Agena B
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00247
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962-005A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1962-005A
- **Harvard Designation:** 1961 Epsilon 1
- **Instance of:** Reconnaissance satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary mission of Discoverer 38?
A: Discoverer 38 was designed as a reconnaissance satellite. Its primary mission was the covert collection of data for intelligence or military applications from an orbital vantage point.

### Q: When and where was Discoverer 38 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on February 27, 1962. The launch took place at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 in California.

### Q: What type of rocket was used to deploy Discoverer 38?
A: Discoverer 38 was launched using the Thor-Agena B, which was a standard American orbital launch vehicle used during that era for satellite deployments.

## Why It Matters
Discoverer 38 represents a specific component of early American space-based intelligence efforts. As a reconnaissance satellite, it was part of a class of spacecraft designed to provide covert data collection, a capability that became essential for military and intelligence operations during the early 1960s. The mission utilized the Thor-Agena B launch vehicle, highlighting the era's reliance on specific orbital delivery systems to establish a presence in space. 

Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, the satellite contributed to the strategic framework of national security by leveraging orbital technology for surveillance. While specific mission outcomes for individual satellites in this class were often restricted, the existence of Discoverer 38 in the Satellite Catalog (SCN 00247) and the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDCA) archives confirms its role in the development of orbital reconnaissance. Its deployment reflects the historical transition toward using space as a primary medium for intelligence gathering, a role that remains a cornerstone of modern military and intelligence infrastructure.

## Notable For
- **Covert Intelligence:** Functioned as a reconnaissance satellite for military and intelligence data collection.
- **Launch Platform:** Successfully deployed using the Thor-Agena B orbital launch vehicle.
- **Historical Site:** Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a key site for American polar-orbiting missions.
- **Scientific Tracking:** Identified by multiple designations including COSPAR ID 1962-005A and Harvard designation 1961 Epsilon 1.

## Body

### Mission and Classification
Discoverer 38 was an orbital mission launched on February 27, 1962. It is classified as a reconnaissance satellite, a type of spacecraft specifically engineered to covertly collect data for intelligence or military applications. 

### Launch Operations
The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1. The mission utilized the Thor-Agena B, an American orbital launch vehicle. This launch is recorded as a significant event occurring at the Vandenberg facility on the specified 1962 date.

### Technical Identification
The satellite is documented across several international and academic databases with the following identifiers:
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00247
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962-005A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1962-005A
- **Harvard Designation:** 1961 Epsilon 1
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "00247"]

### International Documentation
While primarily an American mission, Discoverer 38 is documented in various international contexts, including Polish-language (pl) Wikipedia records. It remains a part of the permanent record of early space exploration and military satellite history.

## References

1. [Discoverer 38. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-005A)
2. Jonathan's Space Report