The primary goal of the satellites was to replace the U-2 spyplane in surveilling the Sino-Soviet Bloc, determining the disposition and speed of production of Soviet missiles and long-range bombers assess.

The KH-1 payload included the C (for Corona) single, vertical-looking, panoramic camera that scanned back and forth, exposing its film at a right angle to the line of flight.

Joe E. Mann (positioned between the tracking stations at Kaena Point, Hawaii and Kodiak, Alaska)[9]: 96  until ionization blackout.

This data suggested the capsule was off course, and the recovery fleet was diverted southward 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) to the expected landing place.

Later analysis determined that the ceramic reentry heat shield had failed to detach from the SRV, causing a faster than normal descent, in turn preventing the parachute from deploying.

[1]: 245  CORONA was declassified in 1995,[1]: 14  and a formal acknowledgement of the existence of US reconnaissance programs, past and present, was issued in September 1996.