Galactic Radiation and Background

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Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) is the name of a series of intelligence satellites operated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. 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 1B, 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 operated for four months.

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 last GRAB launch attempt was 26 April 1962.

The existence of the program was declassified by the NRL in 1998. The program was continued by the POPPY program after the estatblishment of the National Reconnaissance Office in 1962.

  • (5th GRAB launch attempt)
    • Launch: 26 April 1962
    • Site: Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California
    • Vehicle: Scout (failure)

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • MacDonald, Robert A. and Moreno, Sharon K. Raising the Periscope... Grab and Poppy, America's early ELINT Satellites. Pub. by NRO, 2005.
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