The project was quickly put together to get imagery of a site near Leningrad suspected of having anti-ballistic missiles.
[2] The satellite carried Itek's "E-5" camera developed for the SAMOS program, which had been cancelled.
The satellite weighed 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), and had a single re-entry vehicle in which exposed film was returned to earth for a mid-air[3] aircraft recovery.
This spacecraft achieved orbit but the Agena rocket failed in flight and no film data were returned.
[7][8] KH-6 8003 was launched from Vandenberg AFB aboard a Thor-Agena D rocket (Thor 382)[5] at 00:00:00 GMT on 31 July 1963.