| Discoverer 19 | |
| Mission Type: | Technology |
| Operator: | US Air Force/ARPA |
| Harvard Designation: | 1960 Tau 1 |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Agena-B |
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Thor DM-21 Agena-B 258 |
| Launch Site: | Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 206km (128miles) |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 578km (359miles) |
| Orbit Inclination: | 83.4 degrees |
| Orbit Period: | 92.4 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Discoverer |
| Previous Mission: | Discoverer 18 |
| Next Mission: | Discoverer 20 |
| Programme2: | Midas |
| Previous Mission2: | Midas 2 |
| Next Mission2: | RM-2 |
Discoverer 19, also known as RM-1, was an American satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B.[1]
The launch of Discoverer 19 occurred at 20:32 UTC on 20 December 1960. A Thor DM-21 Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 75-3-5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2] Upon successfully reaching orbit, it was assigned the Harvard designation 1960 Tau 1.
Discoverer 19 was operated in a low Earth orbit, with a perigee of, an apogee of, 83.4 degrees of inclination, and a period of 92.4 minutes.[3] The satellite had a mass of,[4] and was used to demonstrate technology for the Midas programme,[5] including infrared sensors.[4] Communication with the satellite was lost on Christmas Day 1960. It remained in orbit until 23 January 1961,[3] when it decayed and reentered the atmosphere.