Jumpseat (satellite)

Jumpseat, also known as AFP-711[1] is reportedly a code name for a class of SIGINT reconnaissance satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office for the United States Air Force in the 1970s and 1980s. The program is classified, and much of the information in the open is speculative.

It is believed that six Jumpseat satellites were successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Titan IIIB launch vehicles with Agena D boosters between 21 March 1971 and 31 July 1983, the primary purpose of them being to monitor Soviet ABM radars. There was one failure, when the second satellite's Agena malfunctioned and left it in a useless orbit.

The 700-kg Jumpseat satellites were manufactured by Hughes Aircraft and were inserted into highly elliptical Molniya orbits with an inclination of 63 degrees and orbital periods of close to 12 hours. These were in similar orbits to the Satellite Data System relay satellites.

The successors to the Jumpseat series are the Trumpet satellites.

Satellites

Name COSPAR ID
SATCAT №		 Launch date
(UTC)		 Launch vehicle Launch site Orbit Remarks
OPS 4788 1971-021A
05053 		21 March 1971
03:45 		Titan III(33)B VAFB SLC-4W
OPS 1844 N/A 16 February 1972
09:59 		Titan III(33)B VAFB SLC-4W N/A Failed to achieve orbit
OPS 7724 1973-056A
06791 		21 August 1973
16:07 		Titan III(33)B VAFB SLC-4W
OPS 2439 1975-017A
07687 		10 March 1975
04:41 		Titan III(34)B VAFB SLC-4W
OPS 6031 1978-021A
10688 		25 February 1978
05:00 		Titan III(34)B VAFB SLC-4W
OPS 7225 1981-038A
12418 		24 April 1981
21:32 		Titan III(34)B VAFB SLC-4W
OPS 7304 1983-078A
14237 		31 July 1983
15:41 		Titan III(34)B VAFB SLC-4W

References

  1. ↑

Richelson, Jeffrey T. ed. U.S. Military Uses of Space, 1945-1991 Vol 1, Guide. National Security Archive. 1991.

External links


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