Discoverer I was the first of a series of satellites part of the CORONA reconnaissance program. This satellite didn't take a camera or film system as it was intended as a test. There were issues communicating with the satellite during flight with only intermittent signals being read. February 28, 1959 at 21:49 UTC · Launch Failure Thor Agena A — United States Air Force, to Polar Orbit Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 34th orbital launch attempt, and 3rd of 1959. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.