The KH-1 (Keyhole-1) was the first attempt in the Corona-program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite. These satellites were all launched under the name Discoverer. November 7, 1959 at 20:28 UTC · Launch Successful Thor Agena A — United States Air Force, to Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 52nd orbital launch attempt, and 21st of 1959. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.