Official name OPS 4282
Alternative name KH-8 6 (Gambit-3 6 - OPS 4282)
Cospar ID 1967-064A
Norad ID 2858
Launch date 1967-06-20
Launch site AFWTR
Launch vehicle Titan-3B Agena-D
Country/Organization USA
Type application Reconnaissance, photo (film return type)
Operator US Air Force (USAF)
RCS size UNKNOWN
Decay date 1967-06-30
Shape Cyl
Mass (kg) 3650
Diameter (m) 1.52
Height (m) 7.08
Span (m^2) 7.08
Contractors Lockheed (SCS), Eastman Kodak (PPS), General Electric (SRV)
Equipment ?
Propulsion Bell 8096, SPS
Configuration Agena-D, 1 SRV
Power Batteries

KH-8 (Keyhole-8) or Gambit-3 was the second generation of Gambit high resolution reconnaissance satellites. The KH-8 Block 1 were the initial iteration of this design.

KH-8 introduced a new camera system and reverted back to the Agena-D flight control stage instead of the OCV of its predecessor. The forward part was joint via a roll joint with the Agena-D. The major subsystems of the satellite included a photographic-payload section (PPS), a satellite-control section (SCS), and the booster vehicle. The payload section contained a camera module and a satellite recovery-vehicle (SRV). The control section included the command system, the orbit-adjust module, an attitude-control subsystem, a back-up stabilization system (BUSS), and the power supply.

The camera system was strip camera coupled to an optical system a focal length of 4.46 m. In the optical system the ground image is reflected by a steerable flat mirror to a 1.21 m diameter stationary concave primary mirror. The primary mirror reflects the light through an opening in the flat mirror and through a Ross corrector. At perigeum, the main camera imaged a 6.3 km wide ground swath on a 223.8 mm wide moving portion of film through a small slit aperture. The ground resolution was as small as 0.1 m or better, near the theoretical physical e resolution limit imposed by atmospheric turbulence.

The Astro-Position Terrain Camera (APTC) contained three cameras: a 75 mm focal length terrain frame camera, and two 90 mm focal length stellar cameras. The terrain frame camera takes exposures of Earth in direction of the vehicle roll position for attitude determination. The stellar cameras observed in 180° opposite directions and took images of star fields.

The first 22 satellites, called KH-8 Block 1, featured only one SRV. The sixth mission was the first flight of the stellar index camera. Beginning with the 12th vehicle, an improved roll joint was installed.

Due to the higher launch mass, the KH-8 were launched by Titan-3B Agena-D rockets instead of Atlas Agenas.

KH-8 5 failed to reach orbit. On KH-8 11, the parachute of the SRV capsule failed. KH-8 18 and KH-8 19 had a too high apogees, as the Agena-D failed to switch off at the correct time.

The KH-8 Block-1 satellites were succeeded by the improved KH-8 Block 2 satellites featuring two SRVs.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
OPS 3014 1966-069A 1966-07-29 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4096 1966-086A 1966-09-28 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 8968 1966-113A 1966-12-14 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4204 1967-016A 1967-02-24 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4282 1967-064A 1967-06-20 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4886 1967-079A 1967-08-16 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4941 1967-090A 1967-09-19 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4995 1967-103A 1967-10-25 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5000 1967-121A 1967-12-05 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5028 1968-005A 1968-01-18 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5057 1968-018A 1968-03-13 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5105 1968-031A 1968-04-17 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5138 1968-047A 1968-06-05 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5187 1968-064A 1968-08-06 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5247 1968-074A 1968-09-10 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5296 1968-099A 1968-11-06 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 6518 1968-108A 1968-12-04 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 7585 1969-007A 1969-01-22 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 4248 1969-019A 1969-03-04 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 5310 1969-039A 1969-04-15 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D
OPS 1077 1969-050A 1969-06-03 AFWTR Titan-3B Agena-D