# KH 7-07

> American reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q11732920](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11732920)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kh-7-07

## Summary
KH 7-07 was an American reconnaissance satellite, specifically part of the KH-7 Gambit series, launched on April 23, 1964. It was operated by the United States Air Force and had a mass of 2000 kilograms.

## Key Facts
- KH 7-07 was launched on April 23, 1964, at 18:43 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West
- It was part of the KH-7 Gambit series of U.S. reconnaissance satellites
- The satellite had a mass of 2000 kilograms
- It was launched using an Atlas LV-3 Agena-D launch vehicle with the specific version 351D
- Its COSPAR ID was 1964-020A
- The manufacturers were General Electric (for the orbital control and recovery vehicles) and Kodak (for the photographic payload section)
- KH 7-07 was also known by aliases including Mission 4007, OPS 3743, AFP-206 SV 957, GAMBIT SV 957, and GAMBIT-1 7
- The satellite re-entered the atmosphere on April 29, 1964
- Its internal SCN code was 00786

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of KH 7-07?
A: KH 7-07 was a reconnaissance satellite designed for intelligence gathering. Part of the KH-7 Gambit series, it was equipped with a photographic payload section manufactured by Kodak to capture high-resolution images of targets on Earth.

### Q: Who manufactured KH 7-07?
A: KH 7-07 was manufactured by multiple companies. General Electric produced the orbital control vehicle and satellite recovery vehicle, while Kodak was responsible for the photographic payload section.

### Q: How long did KH 7-07 remain in space?
A: KH 7-07 was launched on April 23, 1964, and re-entered the atmosphere on April 29, 1964, meaning it remained operational in space for approximately 6 days.

## Why It Matters
KH 7-07 represents an important milestone in Cold War reconnaissance technology, contributing to the United States' ability to monitor foreign military capabilities without direct overflight. The KH-7 Gambit series, of which KH 7-07 was a part, marked significant advances in satellite reconnaissance, providing higher resolution imagery than earlier systems. These satellites played a crucial role in strategic intelligence gathering during a period of heightened tensions between superpowers, helping to reduce risks of conflict through objective intelligence assessment. The technological innovations developed for the KH-7 program also laid groundwork for future reconnaissance satellite systems that continue to influence modern national security capabilities.

## Notable For
- Being one of the early KH-7 Gambit satellites launched during the Cold War
- Having an unusually short operational period of only 6 days before re-entry
- Featuring a dual-manufacturer design with General Electric building the spacecraft and Kodak supplying the photographic payload
- Carrying the specific COSPAR identifier 1964-020A in the international satellite registry
- Being launched using the Atlas LV-3 Agena-D rocket with version 351D configuration

## Body
### Design and Specifications
KH 7-07 was part of the KH-7 Gambit series, a class of American reconnaissance satellites developed for intelligence gathering. The satellite had a mass of 2000 kilograms and was designed to capture high-resolution images of targets on Earth.

### Launch and Mission
The satellite was launched on April 23, 1964, at 18:43 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West using an Atlas LV-3 Agena-D launch vehicle with version 351D. Its COSPAR ID was 1964-020A, and it operated under various aliases including Mission 4007, OPS 3743, AFP-206 SV 957, GAMBIT SV 957, and GAMBIT-1 7.

### Manufacturing and Components
KH 7-07 was manufactured by multiple companies with specific roles. General Electric was responsible for producing the orbital control vehicle and satellite recovery vehicle, while Kodak manufactured the photographic payload section that enabled the satellite's reconnaissance capabilities.

### Operational Timeline
The satellite's mission was brief but successful. It was launched on April 23, 1964, and re-entered the atmosphere on April 29, 1964, resulting in an operational period of approximately 6 days. This short duration was typical for early reconnaissance satellites of this era.

### Organizational Context
KH 7-07 was operated by the United States Air Force as part of the nation's reconnaissance satellite program. The internal SCN code for this satellite was 00786, and it was registered with the National Space Science Data Center under its COSPAR ID.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kh-7.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1964-020A)
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-020A)