US Intelligence Declassifies Data on Satellites Monitoring the USSR Jumpseat.
The US has declassified data on the satellites monitoring the USSR known as Jumpseat. Information about the spacecraft can be read on the website of the National Reconnaissance Office of the United States.
From 1971 to 1987, eight satellite launches were conducted under the Jumpseat program (also known as AFP-711), one of which was unsuccessful.
"The National Reconnaissance Office confirms mission numbers from 7701 to 7708 for the eight Jumpseat launches. Previously, analysts attempted to match Jumpseat missions with known space launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, although only the first and last of them have been declassified so far. There is a possibility that some of the launches typically attributed to Jumpseat are actually related to other payloads," writes the TWZ portal.
The Jumpseat electronic reconnaissance devices had two main tasks. Firstly, they monitored electromagnetic signals that provided secure communication channels between military personnel of the US's rival countries. Secondly, they analyzed electromagnetic signals related to missile launches and the opponents' air defense nodes.
According to a document published by US intelligence, Jumpseat "was originally aimed at countering the capabilities of the weapon systems of other rival countries."
The agency also showcased some photographs and images related to Jumpseat for the first time. These show that key features of the spacecraft included a large, partially foldable parabolic antenna for data collection, as well as a smaller parabolic antenna designed for transmitting data to Earth.
According to the National Reconnaissance Office of the United States, the Jumpseat satellites were decommissioned 20 years ago.
