clip11.mpg

The team members who made up the Corona program can take just pride for their achievements in intelligence gathering as well as their scientific and technical contributions.

They have compiled an enviable number of lasting firsts:

• the first use of a satellite to gather photo intelligence
• the first midair recovery or catch of a re-entry vehicle
• the first mapping of the earth from space
• the first gathering of stereo-optical data from space
• the first use of multiple re-entry vehicles
• the first space reconnaissance program to fly 100 missions