Discoverer 2 Mission
Launch Status
Success
Date & Time
13 Apr 1959, 9:18pm
UTC
Location
Pad
Space Launch Complex 1W
Launch Service Provider
Vehicle
Mission
Discoverer 2
Mission Type
Government/Top Secret
Destination
Polar Orbit
Discoverer II successfully reached orbit and took photos of Earth. However, when the capsule with the data was ejected in order to re-enter the atmosphere there was a timer malfunction meaning it seperated too early and landed over the North Pole rather than the intended target of Hawaii. The capsule was never recovered.
Updated: Jan 3, 7:53pm UTC
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