Poppy (early Version) [NRO]
Poppy (early Version) [NRO] |
Poppy was the follow-on ELINT system, which succeeded the "Galactic Radiation and Background" (Grab) ELINT satellite system. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) proposed and developed Poppy, an electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellite system in 1962. Poppy's mission was to collect radar emissions from Soviet naval vessels. The primary organizations that supported the Poppy Program included NRO, NSA, NRL, the Naval Security Group, the Air Force Security Service, the Army Security Agency and the Office of Naval Intelligence.
The Poppy Program was a component of the NRO Program C and NRL designed, developed, and operated Poppy satellites within Program C. NRO Program A provided launch support for Poppy. NSA received, analyzed, and reported findings derived from the intercepted radar signals from Poppy. The Naval Security Group, with support from Air Force Security Service and Army Security Agency, coordinated field operations and maintained and operated Poppy ground sites.
The Poppy Program operated from December 1962 through August 1977. A total of seven
Poppy satellites launched into space from 1962 to 1971. The launch dates are as follows:
Dec. 13, 1962, June 15, 1963, Jan. 11, 1964, March 9, 1965, May 31, 1967, Sept. 30, 1969,
and Dec. 14, 1971. Poppy's average useful life on orbit was 34 months.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | ELINT |
| Operator: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) / US Navy |
| Contractors: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Lifetime: | ca. 34 month (average) |
| Mass: | ? |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poppy 1 (NRL-PL 120 ?) | 13.12.1962 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | with Injun 3, Surcal 2, Calsphere 1, NRL-PL 121? | |
| Poppy 2 (NRL-PL 112) | 15.06.1963 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | with Solrad 6, LOFTI 2B, Surcal 3, Radose 1 | |
| Poppy 3 (NRL-PL 135) | 11.01.1964 | Va 75-3-5 | Thor-SLV2A Agena-D | with SECOR 1, Solrad 7A, GGSE 1 | |
| Poppy 4 (NRL-PL 142) | 09.03.1965 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | with SECOR 3, Dodecapole 1, Solrad 7B, GGSE 2, GGSE 3, Surcal 4, Oscar 3 | |
| Poppy 5 (NRL-PL 151 ?) | 31.05.1967 | Va SLC-2W | Thor-DM21 Agena-D | with Timation 1, GGSE 4, GGSE 5, Calsphere 3, Calsphere 4, NRL-PL 153, NRL-PL 159, OPS 5712 |
| Further NRL ELINT missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs