Jumpseat (satellite)

JUMPSEAT, also known as AFP-711^[1] is a code name for a class of highly elliptical orbitSIGINTreconnaissance satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office for the United States Air Force in the 1970s and 1980s, and retired from use in 2006.^[2] These satellites were developed under Project EARPOP during the 1960s and early 1970s^[3] Some program details were declassified in December 2025.^[3]

The JUMPSEAT satellites had the purpose of collecting electronic signals to provide information about adversarial countries weapon systems capabilities.^[2][3] This was a continuation of preexisting satellite constellations such as Grab or Poppy.^[4] Gathered data was downlinked to ground stations within the United States.^[3]

The 700 kilograms (1,500 lb) 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.^[5] These were in similar orbits to the Satellite Data System relay satellites.

The successors to the Jumpseat series are the Trumpet satellites.

Eight JUMPSEAT satellites with mission numbers 7701 to 7708 were launched between March 21, 1971, and February 12, 1987,^[3] from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West (SLC-4W)^[2] on Titan IIIB launch vehicles with Agena D boosters.

There was one failure (OPS 1844, on February 16, 1972), when the second satellite's Agena malfunctioned and left the satellite in a useless orbit.^[1]

• ريتشلسون، جيفري تي. (محرر). الاستخدامات العسكرية الأمريكية للفضاء، 1945-1991، المجلد 1، الدليل. أرشيف الأمن القومي. 1991.

• التسجيل متاح على موقع astronautix.com
• مدخل في صفحة غونتر الفضائية
• سجل عمليات إطلاق الأقمار الصناعية من تقرير جوناثان الفضائي
• JUMPSEAT - سلسلة المركبات الفضائية للاستخبارات الإلكترونية (NRO/USAF/NSA - البرنامج AFP-711) على موقع GlobalSecurity.org