The GRAB II (Galactic Radiation And Background) satellite and the Poppy satellite models, on loan from the Naval Research Lab (NRL,) depict two of the earliest signals intelligence satellites to be launched by the U.S. Government. The first GRAB satellite was launched on 22 June 1960 following the loss in May of the U-2 spy plane flown by Gary Powers. The successful launch of the GRAB II satellite occurred on 29 June 1961.
The GRAB satellites had a dual mission. The unclassified mission, from which the satellite earned its name, was to gather solar radiation data. The secret mission involved the signals intelligence package carried aboard the satellite. It gathered radar pulses within a specific bandwidth from Soviet equipment.
The data was then downloaded to ground stations, recorded on magnetic tape, and couriered to the NRL, whose engineers had designed and built GRAB. Following initial analysis, the tapes were duplicated and sent to Strategic Air Command and the National Security Agency (NSA). Based on the information NSA received, analysts determined that the Soviets had radars that supported the capability to destroy ballistic missiles.
In 1962, the new National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) took over NRL’s Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) satellite activities, and on 13 December 1962 launched Poppy 1. NRO launched six more Poppy satellites into orbit throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s. The satellites grew in size from a modest 20x24 inches and 55 pounds to 27x34 inches and 282 pounds.
Like GRAB, Poppy transponded ELINT data to ground stations. Operators and cryptologic technicians from the military services recorded information and signals of interest and reported them to NSA. NSA in turn analyzed the information and produced reports for the Intelligence Community.
The GRAB and Poppy programs dramatically increased the capability of the U.S. Intelligence Community to acquire ELINT data deep within the Soviet Union and supported a wide range of intelligence capabilities.