Galactic Radiation and Background
Encyclopedia
Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) was the covername for Project Dyno ELINT intelligence satellites operated by the U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory
(NRL) shortly after the Cold War
U-2 incident of 1960. The satellites carried two sets of instruments: an unclassified experiment (called Solrad) and a then-classified payload to collect electronic intelligence (ELINT) (called Tattletale). Of five attempted launches, two missions were successful. The program is also known by the later codeword Canes.
The first GRAB satellite was launched 22 June 1960 on the same rocket as Transit
2A, an early naval navigation satellite. Called GRAB 1, it has the distinction of being the first successful U.S. intelligence satellite, returning intelligence data on 5 July 1960. It collected ELINT information over a period of three months, totaling 22 data collection passes of 40 min each over the Soviet Union, China and their allies. The SOLRAD experiment remained operational for 10 month.
The other successful GRAB mission, called GRAB 2 was launched 29 June 1961, atop the same Thor-Able-Star
launch vehicle as Injun
, a geophysical science satellite from the University of Iowa
, and Transit 4A. GRAB 2 functioned in orbit for fourteen months.
The GRAB program cover was developed after the public disclosure of Project TATTLETALE in the New York Times. TATTLETALE satellites were supposed to obtain RADAR
ELINT information in the S-band using a crystal video receiver derived from the German World War II
ATHOS system from a 500 nm circular orbit, and transpond them pulse-by-pulse to ground stations. The ELINT capabilities expanded from one RF band for the first two launch attempts to multiple bands from launch three on. The primary mission was to map the Soviet air defense radars.
The existence of the program was declassified by the NRL in 1998. After the establishment of the National Reconnaissance Office
in 1962 the program was continued by the POPPY
program until its termination on 30 September 1977.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Naval Research Laboratory
United States Naval Research Laboratory
The United States Naval Research Laboratory is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps and conducts a program of scientific research and development. NRL opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison...
(NRL) shortly after the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
U-2 incident of 1960. The satellites carried two sets of instruments: an unclassified experiment (called Solrad) and a then-classified payload to collect electronic intelligence (ELINT) (called Tattletale). Of five attempted launches, two missions were successful. The program is also known by the later codeword Canes.
The first GRAB satellite was launched 22 June 1960 on the same rocket as Transit
Transit (satellite)
The TRANSIT system, also known as NAVSAT , was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was primarily used by the U.S...
2A, an early naval navigation satellite. Called GRAB 1, it has the distinction of being the first successful U.S. intelligence satellite, returning intelligence data on 5 July 1960. It collected ELINT information over a period of three months, totaling 22 data collection passes of 40 min each over the Soviet Union, China and their allies. The SOLRAD experiment remained operational for 10 month.
The other successful GRAB mission, called GRAB 2 was launched 29 June 1961, atop the same Thor-Able-Star
Thor-Ablestar
The Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon was an American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage...
launch vehicle as Injun
Injun (satellite)
The Injun program was a series of six satellites designed and built by researchers at the University of Iowa. They were intended to observe various radiation and magnetic phenomena in the ionosphere and beyond....
, a geophysical science satellite from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, and Transit 4A. GRAB 2 functioned in orbit for fourteen months.
The GRAB program cover was developed after the public disclosure of Project TATTLETALE in the New York Times. TATTLETALE satellites were supposed to obtain RADAR
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
ELINT information in the S-band using a crystal video receiver derived from the German World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ATHOS system from a 500 nm circular orbit, and transpond them pulse-by-pulse to ground stations. The ELINT capabilities expanded from one RF band for the first two launch attempts to multiple bands from launch three on. The primary mission was to map the Soviet air defense radars.
The existence of the program was declassified by the NRL in 1998. After the establishment of the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
in 1962 the program was continued by the POPPY
Poppy (satellite)
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 and Soviet naval ships at sea....
program until its termination on 30 September 1977.
Launches
- GRAB 1
- Launch: 22 June 1960
- Site: Cape CanaveralCape CanaveralCape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
- Vehicle: Thor-Able-Star
- COSPARCOSPARThe Committee on Space Research was established by the International Council for Science in 1958.Among COSPAR's objectives are the promotion of scientific research in space on an international level, with emphasis on the free exchange of results, information, and opinions, and providing a forum,...
ID: 1960-ETA 2 or 1960-007B(still in orbit as of March 2007)
- (2nd GRAB launch attempt)
- Launch: 30 November 1960
- Site: Cape CanaveralCape CanaveralCape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
- Vehicle: Thor-Able-StarThor-AblestarThe Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon was an American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage...
(failure) - COSPAR ID: 1960-F16
- GRAB 2
- Launch: 29 June 1961
- Site: Cape CanaveralCape CanaveralCape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
- Vehicle: Thor-Able-StarThor-AblestarThe Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon was an American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage...
- COSPAR ID: 1960-OMICRON-2 or 1961-015B(still in orbit as of March 2007)
- (4th GRAB launch attempt)
- Launch: 24 January 1962
- Site: Cape CanaveralCape CanaveralCape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
- Vehicle: Thor-Able-StarThor-AblestarThe Thor-Ablestar, or Thor Able-Star, also known as Thor-Epsilon was an American expendable launch system consisting of a PGM-17 Thor missile, with an Ablestar upper stage...
(failure) - COPSAR ID: 1960-F02
- (5th GRAB launch attempt)
- Launch: 26 April 1962
- Site: Naval Missile Facility, Point ArguelloPoint ArguelloPoint Arguello is a headland used as a launch site by the United States Navy. Point Arguello was first used in 1959 for the launch of military and sounding rockets. It was transferred to the United States Air Force in 1964, at which time it became part of Vandenberg Air Force Base.There were 6...
, California - Vehicle: ScoutScout (rocket)The Scout family of rockets were launch vehicles designed to place small satellites into orbit around the Earth. The Scout multistage rocket was the first orbital launch vehicle to be entirely composed of solid fuel stages....
(failure) - COSPAR ID: 1962-F03