The top secret URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH satellites
3 hours ago
- The satellites URSALA, RAQUEL, FARRAH, GLORIA, and CARRIE were recently declassified, revealing previously secret space shuttle payloads.
- They evolved from custom-built 'hitchhiker' satellites to standardized platforms supporting tactical military forces (Army, Navy, Air Force).
- Naming conventions shifted from obscure references to movie actresses to avoid hinting at missions.
- URSALA and RAQUEL targeted different radar frequency bands; later merged into FARRAH satellites with expanded 2–18 GHz coverage.
- FARRAH satellites had onboard digital computers and could direct downlink data to mobile ground stations, ships, and aircraft.
- GLORIA satellites (launched on shuttle missions) were quick-reaction surveys of new frequency bands (e.g., 30–38 GHz).
- CARRIE, a COMINT experiment on the STEX satellite, supported warfighters and operated for eight years.
- The Mission 7300 (ELINT) and Mission 7100 (ocean surveillance) programs merged in the 1990s; ocean surveillance ended in 2008.