The Rhyolite (later renamed to Aquacade, when the former name became public) are geostationary signals intelligence satellites. Their purpose was to intercept communications transmissions, especially line-of-sight microwave links and missile telemetry interception, from the Soviet Union and China. Unlike the Canyon SIGINT crafts, they were positioned in geostationary orbit.
The Rhyolite satellites were also known as Program 720 and Program 472. They were succeeded by the Magnum / Orion series.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | ELINT |
| Operator: | USAF |
| Contractors: | TRW, E-Systems |
| Equipment: | ? |
| Configuration: | ~ 20 m Ø Dish Antenna, 3-Axis-Stabilization |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Power: | |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 700 kg |
| Orbit: | GEO |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhyolite 1 → Aquacade 1 (OPS 5346) | 19.06.1970 | CC LC-13 | Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D | ||
| Rhyolite 2 → Aquacade 2 (OPS 6063) | 06.03.1973 | CC LC-13 | Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D | ||
| Rhyolite 3 → Aquacade 3 (OPS 4258) | 11.12.1977 | CC LC-13 | Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D | ||
| Rhyolite 4 → Aquacade 4 (OPS 8790) | 07.04.1978 | CC LC-13 | Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D |
