Discoverer 19

{{short description|Reconnaissance satellite}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Discoverer 19

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Technology

| operator = US Air Force/ARPA

| Harvard_designation = 1960 Tau 1

| SATCAT =

| mission_duration =

| spacecraft =

| spacecraft_type =

| spacecraft_bus = Agena-B

| manufacturer = Lockheed

| launch_mass = {{convert|1060|kg}}

| launch_date = {{start-date|20 December 1960, 20:32|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Thor DM-21 Agena-B 258

| launch_site = Vandenberg LC-75-3-5

| decay_date = {{end-date|23 January 1961}}

| orbit_epoch =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|206|km|mi|sp=us}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|578|km|mi|sp=us}}

| orbit_inclination = 83.4 degrees

| orbit_period = 92.4 minutes

| apsis = gee

| programme = Discoverer

| previous_mission = Discoverer 18

| next_mission = Discoverer 20

| programme2 = Midas

| previous_mission2 = Midas 2

| next_mission2 = RM-2

}}

File:Thor Agena B with Discoverer 19 (Dec. 20, 1960).gif

Discoverer 19, also known as RM-1, was an American satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/rm-1.htm|title=RM 1, 2 (Discoverer 19, 21)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|accessdate=30 June 2010}}

The launch of Discoverer 19 occurred at 20:32 UTC on 20 December 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|author-link=Jonathan McDowell|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=30 June 2010}} Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Tau 1.

Discoverer 19 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of {{convert|206|km}}, an apogee of {{convert|578|km}}, 83.4 degrees of inclination, and a period of 92.4 minutes.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=30 June 2010}} The satellite had a mass of {{convert|1060|kg}},{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/midas.htm|title=Midas|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=30 June 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120040549/http://astronautix.com/craft/midas.htm|archivedate=20 November 2010}} and was used to demonstrate technology for the Midas programme,{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1960-019A|title=Discoverer 19|work=NSSDC Master Catalog|publisher=NASA|accessdate=30 June 2010}} including infrared sensors. Communication with the satellite was lost on Christmas Day 1960. It remained in orbit until 23 January 1961, when it decayed and reentered the atmosphere.

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