Poppy (satellite)

Poppy is the code name for a series of U.S. spy satellites from the 1960s and 70s. They were used for electronic reconnaissance of Soviet radar systems, making them the successors of the GRAB satellite. The secrecy was lifted by the National Reconnaissance Office only in 2005.

Description

The Poppy satellites had essentially spherical in shape and did not have a position control system. Therefore evenly distributed solar cells and antennas were mounted on all sides. Determining radar positions carried out by the measurement of the propagation time differences in signal reception. During the program, a total of four different variants was developed and launched:

  • 51 × 61 cm, 25 kg, spherical
  • 61 × 81 cm, 59 kg, spherical
  • 89 × 81 cm, 73 kg, 12 planning pages
  • 89 × 86 cm, 128 kg, 12 planning pages

The average lifespan of a Poppy satellites was 34 months. In the various facilities for data reception and processing worked staff of the Naval Security Group, Army Security Agency and the Air Force Security Service. The prepared material was then subsequently sent to the National Security Agency.

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