The First ELINT Satellite GRAB was Launched on 6/22/1960

The photo-reconnaissance satellites such as Corona are much better known than the early ELINT satellites which detected Soviet radars. Gary Powers had been shot down less than two months prior to the launch of GRAB, and President Eisenhower had to specifically approve each time it was turned on looking into Soviet territory. I talk regularly with Pete Wilhelm who worked on it. It had a declassified component SOLRAD and the secret GRAB in the same satellite.

It was declassified on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Naval Research Lab. GRAB produced a large volume of data which was difficult to process. The conversion of analog to digital in the 1960s facilitated this process in subsequent satellites. The newer Parcae satellites were declassified last year as part of the NRL 100th celebration. I've put together a panel discussing this for a conference early next year. I should find out in late summer if it's approved. Stay tuned.

This was the first time a rocket launched two satellites: a Transit Navsat and the SOLRAD/GRAB satellite. Here’s my father’s colleague Marty Votaw on the left with the two satellites.