Program: Poppy

US NRL ELINT program which was unclassified in Sep 2005.

Was developed by the NRLand then transfered to NRO. Operated from Dec 1962 to Aug 1977. It succeeded to GRAB (Galactic Radiation and Background). Its followup is NOSS, still classified.

Seven launches took place by Thor Agena: 13 Dec 1962, 15 Jun 1963, 11 Jan 1964, 9 Mar 1965, 31 May 1967, 30 Sep 1969, 14 Dec 1971. The average lifetime of the satellites was 34 months.

Had a spherical shape similar to GGSE, upto 0.61 m diameter. The last few satellites were entirely covered with solar cells.

---