Samos (Satellite and Missile Observation System), originally named Sentry or Program (or Project) 101, was the second program that evolved from WS 117L and aimed at developing a heavier reconnaissance satellite that would be launched by an Atlas booster instead of the Thor used to launch the project Discoverer (Corona).
The Samos E-1 series carried the E-1 frame readout camera with 1.83 m focal length, 30 m ground resolution, and 161 km x 161 km frame coverage. The Agena stage remained connected to the spacecraft and provided attitude control.
E-1 was mainly a component test payload. It carried also a Cosmic ray detector, Electric field plasma probe and Acoustic and grid micrometeor detectors.
Samos 1, was launched on 11 October 1960. The satellite was destroyed after a second stage Agena failure. The first successful satellite in the series, Samos 2, was launched 31 January, 1961. The beginning with the launch of the second satellite Samos was highly classified.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Reconnaissance, photo (film scan type) |
| Operator: | USAF |
| Contractors: | |
| Equipment: | E-1 camera |
| Configuration: | Agena-A |
| Propulsion: | Bell 8048 |
| Lifetime: | 10 days |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: | 557 km x 474 km, 97.4° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samos 1 (Samos E-1 #1) | 11.10.1960 | Va | F | Atlas-LV3 Agena-A | |
| Samos 2 (Samos E-1 #2) | 31.01.1961 | Va | Atlas-LV3 Agena-A | ||
| Samos (Samos E-1 #3) | not launched | Va | Atlas-LV3 Agena-A |
| Further Samos missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs