解密记录揭示了美国空军和NRO长达四十年的近地轨道“搭便车”电子情报(ELINT)计划。1963年起,手提箱大小的自旋稳定卫星先搭载在大型侦察航天器上,随后被部署到轨道上,用于收集、记录,有时还会直接中继雷达和通信信号。
这些廉价而定制化的系统最初被重新编号为“989计划”,后来称为“7300任务”,之后逐渐发展为标准化航天器。URSALA负责大范围雷达搜索和辐射源定位,而RAQUEL专注于窄波束技术情报。它们取得的成功使电子情报从一种战略情报产品转变为对外派部队的直接作战支持,并推动了战术利用国家能力(TENCAP)以及移动式地面处理系统的发展。
FARRAH combines URSALA and RAQUEL functions, added onboard processing, and could downlink data directly to ships, aircraft, and tactical units. Two smaller FARRAHs launched from HEXAGON satellites and operated until 2004; three enlarged versions later launched on Titan II rockets, with FARRAH IV failing. LORRI, GLORIA, and CARRIE conducted specialized spectrum surveys or communications intelligence, including on classified shuttle missions. The program’s ultimate fate remains unclear, but its legacy was integrating space-based SIGINT into routine military operations.