Jumpseat (satellite)

Jumpseat, also known as AFP-711 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

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

External links

• Entry at astronautix.com
• Entry at Gunter's space page
• Log of satellite launches from Jonathan's Space Report
• JUMPSEAT - SIGINT Spacecraft Series (NRO/USAF/ NSA - Program AFP-711) at GlobalSecurity.org