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WS-117L and CORONA

CIA

First successful space-based photographic reconnaissance program that revolutionized satellite intelligence gathering during the Cold War

  Origins and Context

The Air Force initiated Weapon System 117L (WS-117L) in October 1956 to develop America's first reconnaissance satellite system.1 This evolved into the classified CORONA program in 1958, jointly managed by the CIA and Air Force.2

  Program Structure

The program used modified Thor-Agena rockets to launch satellites carrying specialized cameras.3 After capturing images, the satellites ejected film capsules that were recovered mid-air by specially equipped aircraft.4

  Legacy

CORONA revolutionized intelligence gathering by providing unprecedented imagery of denied territories.5 The program completed 145 launches between 1959-1972, photographing over 750 million square miles of the Earth's surface.6

  References

  1. "America's First Satellite Program." National Reconnaissance Office, declassified 1995. ↩

  2. Day, Dwayne A. "CORONA: America's First Satellite Program." Smithsonian History of Aviation Series, 1998. ↩

  3. "The CORONA Story." Central Intelligence Agency, declassified documents. ↩

  4. "Recovery of Intelligence Material." National Reconnaissance Office Technical Report, declassified 1995. ↩

  5. McDonald, Robert A. "CORONA Between the Sun and the Earth." American Society for Photogrammetry, 1997. ↩

  6. "CORONA Program History." National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 7. ↩

Published on October 1, 1956

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