Poppy (satellite)
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This is a POPPY satellite of the multiface design.

POPPY is the code name given to a series of U.S. intelligence satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. The POPPY satellites recorded ELINT data, targeting radar installations in the Soviet Union.

The POPPY program was a continuation within NRO's Program C of the Naval Research Laboratory's Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) ELINT program, also known as Tattletale. The National Security Agency was given the responsibility of collecting, interpreting, and reporting the signals intercepted.

The existence of the POPPY program was declassified by the NRO in September 2005, although most of the details about its capabilities and operation are still classified.

There were seven launches of POPPY satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base from 1962 until 1971, all of which were successful. The program continued until August 1977.

Launches

See also

• Naval Ocean Surveillance System

External links

• Poppy program press release
• Poppy program Fact sheet
• Gunter's Space Page - information on Poppy
• Space.com news article

References

• MacDonald, Robert A. and Moreno, Sharon K. Raising the Periscope... Grab and Poppy, America's early ELINT Satellites. Pub. by NRO, 2005.
• NRO Historian, History of the Poppy satellite system
• Jonathan's space report No. 554 (2005-09-24) notes on POPPY payloads