Grab

GRAB, the first US electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellite, was not declassified until June 1998.

The project was originally called "Tattletale," then renamed GRAB. Since the true nature of the satellite was supposed to not be apparent to the Russians, this was revised to GREB (the acronym Galactic Radiation Experimental Background was retroactively dreamed up to explain the name). To further muddy the waters the satellites were launched under the title SOLRAD (the cover purpose being to study solar radiation).

Work on GRAB began around the time of the first successful Vanguard launch. Reid Meyo of the Naval Research Laboratory Countermeasures Branch had developed an electronic intelligence antenna for submarine periscopes. At the same time NRL was seeking quick military exploitation of the Vanguard satellite that it had developed. Reid was sitting in a hotel restaurant in Pennsylvania one night and got the idea that they could simply put his periscope antenna in orbit aboard a Vanguard. The original calculations, in the best tradition of aerospace engineering, were done on the restaurant placemat.

GRAB's receivers were used to catalogue the waveforms and pulse repetition frequencies of Soviet air defense radars. GRABs were launched not by Vanguard rockets but as piggy-back or cluster payloads with other satellites. One inert dummy was used to prove the multiple satellite launching technique. Of five operational GRAB satellites, only two reached orbit and operated successfully. GRAB data was given by NRL to the Strategic Air Command and the National Security Agency (which may indicate communications were also intercepted).

Operational ELINT satellites were taken over by the NRO, and remain classified.

Typical orbit: 777 km circular orbit, 69.1 deg inclination. Length: 0.51 m (1.67 ft). Maximum Diameter: 0.51 m (1.67 ft). Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Electric System: 0.0060 average kW. Associated Launch Vehicle: Scout X-2, Thor Able-Star, Thor Agena D.

• 1960 April 13 - Dummy subsatellite - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able-Star. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb).

• 1960 June 22 - Solrad 1 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able-Star. Mass: 19 kg (41 lb). Perigee: 596 km (370 mi). Apogee: 935 km (580 mi). Inclination: 66.70 deg. Period: 100.20 min.

  Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

• 1960 November 30 - Solrad 2 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able-Star. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb).

• 1961 June 29 - Solrad 3 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able-Star. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb).

• 1962 April 26 - Solrad 4B - Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Vehicle: Scout X-2. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 91 kg (200 lb).

  Solar radiation monitor.

• 1962 January 24 - Solrad 4 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able-Star. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb).

• 1963 June 15 - Solrad 6A - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Perigee: 170 km (100 mi). Apogee: 869 km (539 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 95.10 min.

  Solar radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• 1964 January 11 - Solrad 7A; NRL Solar Rad - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Perigee: 902 km (560 mi). Apogee: 920 km (570 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.20 min.

  Solar radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• 1965 March 9 - Solrad 7B - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D. Mass: 47 kg (103 lb). Perigee: 901 km (559 mi). Apogee: 928 km (576 mi). Inclination: 70.10 deg. Period: 103.30 min.

  Solar radiation monitoring. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Day, Dwayne Allen, sci.space.history Newsgroup, "re: Brief overview of SOLRAD/GREB project", posting, 1998-06-23.

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• USAF Satellite Database, USAF Institute of Technology, 1995. Accessed at: ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/.

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• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.