KH-8 Gambit 3

The KH-8 was a long-lived series of reconnaissance satellites of the "Key Hole" (KH) series used by the United States from July 1966 to April 1984, and also known as Low Altitude Surveillance Platform. The satellite ejected "film-bucket" canisters of photographic film that were retrieved as they descended through the atmosphere by parachute. Ground resolution of the mature satellite system was better than 4 inches (0.10 m). There were 54 launch attempts of the 3,000 kilogram satellites, all from Vandenberg Air Force Base, on variants of the Titan III rocket. Three launches failed to achieve orbit. The first one was satellite #5 on April 26, 1967, which fell into the Pacific Ocean after the Titan second stage developed low thrust. The second was satellite #35 on May 20, 1972, which suffered an Agena pneumatic regulator failure and reentered the atmosphere. A few months later, pieces of the satellite turned up in England and the US managed to arrange for their hasty return. The third failure was satellite #39 on June 26, 1973, which suffered a stuck Agena fuel valve. The Bell 8096 engine failed to start and the satellite burned up in the atmosphere. The KH-8 was manufactured by Lockheed. The camera system/satellite was manufactured by Eastman Kodak's A&O Division in Rochester, New York.

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1966 — 1984  Wikimedia, Wikidata
GAMBIT-3; Keyhole 8
reconnaissance satellite, Lockheed Corporation, United States Air Force, Kodak, General Electric, United States, 
Persia, Republic of Haiti, 1966, reconnaissance satellite, Ekran, Dong Fang Hong 2, Tarshish, Sweden, Sikh Confederacy, United States, Kingdom of Wolaita, Kingdom of Martabam-hongsawatoi, Havilah, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chinland, Calvinist Republic of Ghent, Ashkenaz, 

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Location: KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

Frameless

KH-8 GAMBIT-3 schematic (120120-F-DW547-021)

U.S. RecSat Big Picture

KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 3 & 4)

KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 1)

KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 2)

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
commons	image		KH-8 GAMBIT-3 schematic (120120-F-DW547-021)		Commons
commons	image		U.S. RecSat Big Picture		Commons
commons	image		KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 3 & 4)		Commons
commons	image		KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 1)		Commons
commons	image		KH-8 GAMBIT 3 (Block 2)		Commons