Corona: Freedom's First Sentinel in Space

Highlights from a government produced documentary on Corona, America's first reconnaissance satellite program. Corona operated from 1960 to 1972 with 145 launches. The data from Corona helped build confidence in the measures taken by our national leaders to counter the growing Soviet threat. And it was yet another example of America's pioneering achievements.

Firsts in History:
-The first recovery of a vehicle from space.
-The first use of a satellite to gather photo intelligence.
-The first midair recovery of a reentry vehicle.
-The first mapping of the earth from space.

Video is from the NRO website. I posted this "so that others might gain a sense of just how far-reaching the program's unsung heroes were in their pioneering efforts."

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Corona
• Reconnaissance
• Spy
• Satellite
• United
• States
• Air
• Force
• History
• Cold
• War
• Discoverer
• aviation
• space
• Vandenberg
• Kodak
• Film
• declassified
• CIA
• NRO
• USAF
• Smithsonian
• Space
• Museum

[youtert]

This is obviously edited. People start talking and are immediately cut off. Where can I find the entire film?

[trlhrs]

This is from the NRO website. Only the clips are available and I pieced them together.

[moj027]

thanks for putting this together. fantastic.

[moj027]

thanks for putting this together. fantastic.

[moj027]

thanks for putting this together.  fantastic.

[WojciechSz]

How would you recognise him on the satelite photo? :D

[Delfinmar]

Excellent footage and informative. With the satilites we have today, why can't we find Bin Laden?

[artwleb]

Great video with a good overall view of Corona. I used to follow all the Discoverer (Corona) launches from 1959 to 1962

when the last non secret Discoverer # 37 was flown into orbit.

3 years of tracking failures and successes - what a time in our

history.

[powerrun]

very nice video.

[gridsplicer]

This is great! Thanks so much for uploading this!