Discoverer 9 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite, the sixth of ten operational flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series, and the first of them to be equipped with a new, vacuum-proof, polyester-based film. The satellite was not successfully orbited. February 4, 1960 at 18:51 UTC · Launch Failure Thor Agena A — United States Air Force, to Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 55th orbital launch attempt, and 1st of 1960. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.