Discoverer 11 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The eighth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, it successfully employed the first space-worthy camera film; however, Discoverer's film return capsule was lost during reentry on 16 Apr when the satellite's spin motors exploded. April 15, 1960 at 20:30 UTC · Launch Successful Thor Agena A — United States Air Force, to Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 63rd orbital launch attempt, and 9th of 1960. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.