Government/Top Secret
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.
Orbital Attempt
#36
USAF Mission
#2
Pad Launch
#2
Location Launch
#2
Designator
1959-003
Apr 13, 1959, 9:18 PM
1 update
Space Launch Complex 1 West (SLC-1W) was a launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States. It was built in 1958 for the never activated 75th Strategic Missile Squadron for Thor Agena A launches.
Total Launches
56
Orbital Attempts
56
Fastest Turnaround
13d 1h
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Local Launch Time
Apr 13, 1959, 1:18 PM
Total Launches
900
Total Landings
35
Coordinates
34.7513, -120.5202
