CORONA is the name for the
first operational space photo reconnaissance
satellite. President Dwight David Eisenhower
approved the project in Febuary 1958. The
project was conceived to take pictures in
space of the Soviet Bloc countries and de-orbit
the photographic film for processing and
exploitation.
The CORONA launch sequence
- The Corona vehicle was launched by a THOR
booster and used the AGENA spacecraft as
the upper stage. While in orbit, Corona
took photographs with a constant rotating
stereo panoramic camera system and loaded
the exposed photographic film into recovery
vehicles. (Text description.)
The CORONA recovery sequence
- The recovery vehicles were de-orbited
and recovered by Air Force C-119 aircraft
while floating to earth on a parachute. (Text description.)
Major components of the CORONA
camera system are shown in detailed drawings
and photographs of the systems used.
Side and Top View of the CORONA
camera and recovery system as seen on display
at the Central Intelligence Agency.
