April 15, 1960 8:30 pm

Discoverer 11

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Thor Agena A

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
April 15, 1960 8:30 pm

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Last Updated:

2026-07-14 00:00:06

Discoverer 11 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The eighth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it successfully employed the first space-worthy camera film; however, Discoverer’s film return capsule was lost during reentry on 16 Apr when the satellite’s spin motors exploded.
Launch Overview
Window Open 20:30 UTC
Window Close 20:30 UTC
Lift Off Apr 15, 1960 · 20:30 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 1E
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer United States Air Force
Payload Discoverer 11
Rocket Thor Agena A
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
Discoverer 11 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The eighth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it successfully employed the first space-worthy camera film; however, Discoverer’s film return capsule was lost during reentry on 16 Apr when the satellite’s spin motors exploded.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

United States Air Force
Space Launch Complex 1E
Launch Overview
Window Open 20:30 UTC
Window Close 20:30 UTC
Lift Off Apr 15, 1960 · 20:30 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 1E
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer United States Air Force
Payload Discoverer 11
Rocket Thor Agena A
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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