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 |
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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 | |
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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 |