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 20, 1959 at 19:25 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 53rd orbital launch attempt, and 22nd of 1959. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.