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 Corona
Facts
Corona was the nation's first photo reconnaissance
satellite system, operating from August 1960 until
May 1972. The program was declassified in February
1995. The Index
of the Declassified CORONA, ARGON, and LANYARD
Records are available.
Press Releases
CORONA: Success
for Space Reconnaissance - Abstract from
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Vol 61, No. 6, June 1995
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| Historical Imagery Declassification
Fact Sheet |
| Programs
Declassified |
Corona: Operated from
August 1960 - May 1972. Collected both intelligence
and mapping imagery.
Argon: Used
the organizational framework of CORONA. A
mapping system with 7 of 12 missions successful
from May 1962 - August 1964.
Lanyard:
An attempt to gain higher resolution imagery,
it flew one successful mission in 1963.
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| Origins |
Soviets orbit first satellite, SPUTNIK 14
October 1957
President Eisenhower endorsed program February
1958
Powers shot down in U-2 on 1 May 1960. |
| Significant
Dates |
| 28 February 1959 |
# 1 CORONA test launch
attempt |
| 12 August 1960 |
#13 1st successful recovery
from space |
| 18 August 1960 |
#14 Took 1st image from
space |
| 25 May 1972 |
#145, last CORONA, launched |
| 31 May 1972 |
Last images of the series taken |
| 24 February 1995 |
Executive Order for CORONA
declassification announced |
| 24 May 1995 |
Ceremonies at Central
Intelligence Agency and National Air
& Space Museum |
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| "Firsts"
in History |
1st photo reconnaissance
satellite in the world
1st mid-air recovery of a vehicle returning
from space
1st mapping of earth from space
1st stereo-optical data from space
1st multiple reentry vehicles from space
1st reconnaissance program to fly 100 missions
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| Imagery Statistics |
Imaging resolution was originally 8 meters
(25 feet), but improved to 2 meters (6 feet)
Individual images on average covered an area
approximately 10 miles by 120 miles |
| Production
Statistics |
Operated for nearly 12 years
Over 800,000 images taken from space
Collection includes 2.1 million feet of film
in 39,000 cans |
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