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Tivoli 1, 2, 3 (P-11 4412, 4418, 4422)

Tivoli [NSA]

The Tivoli (Technical Intelligence Vehicle Orbital Life Indefinite) satellites were part of a series of so called Program 11 or P-11 "Subsatellite Ferrets", low orbit ELINT/SIGINT satellites to pinpoint and characterize different Radar emitters in the Soviet Union and Warsaw pact states.

The Tivoli payloads were used to conduct technical Intelligence collection in the 50–4020 MHz range. The targets were ABM radars.

Tivoli 3 was also equipped with an experimental magnetic reaction spin axis attitude control system as a test for the Arroyo mission.

The satellites were based on Lockheed's P-11 bus, which was designed to fit on the aft rack of the Agena-D upper stage. The bus contained each one or two focused payload black boxes and different antenna configurations according to payload, as well as deployable solar arrays. The satellite featured two solid rocket motors, which allowed them to rise and circularize their orbit after deployment from the host satellite. Both spin or gravity gradient stabilization was possible.

These subsatellites were deployed from the propulsion rack of the Agena-D stage of KH-4A Corona and KH-4B Corona reconnaissance satellites. They used two solid-fuel kick-motors to maneuver themselves into their operational orbits after deployment.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: ELINT, SIGINT
Operator: US Air Force (USAF)
Contractors: Lockheed (bus); Electromagnetic Systems Lab (payload)
Equipment: ?
Configuration: P-11 bus
Propulsion: Kick motor
Power: Solar cells, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass:
Orbit: 465 km × 538 km, 81.66° (#1); 501 km × 506 km, 83.09° (#2); 435 km × 503 km, 88.14° (#3)
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Tivoli 1 (P-11 4412, Mission 7324, OPS 6236) 1968-008B 24.01.1968 Va SLC-1E Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D with KH-4A 45
Tivoli 2 (P-11 4418, Mission 7330, OPS 2285) 1969-026B 19.03.1969 Va SLC-3W Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D with KH-4A 50
Tivoli 3 (P-11 4422, Mission 7335, OPS 3402) 1970-016B 04.03.1970 Va SLC-3W Thorad-SLV2H Agena-D with KH-4B 9

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