Canyon (satellite)

CANYON refers to a series of seven United States reconnaissance satellites launched between 1968 and 1977. [ [http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.369 Jonathan's space update No. 369] (1998-08-22) Lists U.S. SIGINT launches] Also known as AFP-827 [ [http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.501 Jonathan's space report No. 501] (2003-06-06) Speculation on the CANYON launches] , the satellites were developed with the participation of the Air Force. The Canyon project is credited as being the first American satellite system tasked for COMINT. [Richelson, Jeffrey T. ed. "U.S. Military Uses of Space, 1945-1991 Vol 1, Guide." National Security Archive. 1991.]

The satellites weighed 700 kg and were launched from Atlas/Agena D rockets into near-geosynchronous orbits. They carried large parabolic reflecting dishes, estimated at 10m in diameter. The Canyon satellites were eventually replaced with the next generation of COMINT satellites, the Vortex/Chalet series. The program remains classified.

List of Launches

ee also

* Rhyolite/Aquacade - Another SIGINT platform operated for the Central Intelligence Agency
* Vortex/Chalet - Canyon's successor

References

External links

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* Gunter's Space Page - information on [http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/canyon.htm Canyon]
* [http://reseau.echelon.free.fr/reseau.echelon/satellites.htm Spy satellites of the NSA] fr icon