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Author
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Topic: Vandenberg launch covers and SAMOS
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Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1985
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-22-2025 05:08 PM
   
I just received a few Vandenberg covers from 1973 to 1975. Why do they use the term "SAMOS" for more than 10 years after the end of the program? They also were given a numerical designation in the early 100s. These were Titan IIID launches, what were the others? |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 931
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-22-2025 05:33 PM
SAMOS-F (or Air Force Program 102) refers to a series of ELINT/SIGINT reconnaissance satellites launched and operated by the United States Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office during the 1960s and early 1970s.These were also known as "Heavy Ferrets." They were initially associated with the Samos project, and later renamed Program 698BK and then Program 770. The satellites were designed to detect, map, and investigate Surface-to-Air Missile and Anti-Ballistic Missile radars. Some of these carried auxiliary payload of Bird Dog satellites. A total of 16 satellites were launched. The first on 2/21/1962 (SAMOS F2-1) and the last on 7/16/71 (SAMOS F3-12). You said you have dates from later than this - can you provide examples? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1847
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-22-2025 05:34 PM
Can you provide some images of the covers that you've referred to? That would help a lot in trying to answer your questions. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1985
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-22-2025 08:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by yeknom-ecaps:
SAMOS-F (or Air Force Program 102) refers to a series of ELINT/SIGINT reconnaissance satellites...
SAMOS-F was ELINT packages that were on the first two SAMOS readout launches. Never heard the Heavy Ferrets referred to as SAMOS. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 931
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-22-2025 10:21 PM
- Samos-F: The Samos satellites were part of a broader US Air Force program that included both optical reconnaissance (Samos-E) and ELINT/SIGINT reconnaissance (Samos-F).
- Heavy Ferrets: The "heavy ferret" designation specifically applied to the ELINT/SIGINT satellites that were launched into low Earth orbit.
- Agena-based "Agena Ferrets": These heavy ferrets were carried by the Agena spacecraft, which also served as the upper stage for the Thor-Agena and Thor-Delta-Agena launch vehicles.
Space Review 4/20/2009: The first designation applied to the Agena ferrets was Samos F-2. The F was simply a sequential designation in the alphabet and did not stand for “ferret.” The first Agena ferret launch is the only confirmed Samos F-2, but before the first flight a total of four F-2 satellites were planned. Further details on the Samos F-1 and the origin of the F-2, including information about the shift from the Atlas to the less powerful Thor rocket, can be found in the article, “Tinker, Tailor, Radar, Spy: Early American Ferret and Radar Satellites,” in the July 2001 issue of Spaceflight.Since the publication of that article, further information has been released by the NRO confirming speculation that there was indeed a Samos F-3 program and that the Samos F-4 was also planned but canceled. Gunter's Space Page: The ELINT/SIGINT satellites known for decades only as "Heavy Ferrets" are now known to be a program originally associated with the Samos (Satellite and Missile Observation System) project. This first series of Heavy Ferrets was called Program 102 and later Program 698BK. These satellites were designed to detect, map and investigate SAM and ABM radars. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1985
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-23-2025 08:59 AM
Regardless, these were covers for Titan IIID launches.  |
Axman
Member Posts: 762
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 05-23-2025 09:37 AM
They are KeyHole 9 launches, otherwise known as Big Birds. (Edit: and I posted that before the images were available).Only the cachet makers' themselves know why they designated them as SAMOS. Possibly because of their secret nature. The numbering and notional relationship to actual real satellites is a complete mystery. From the very first Big Bird, launched 15th June 1971, they were mistakenly called Advanced SAMOS. Space Voyage and related (Intervoyage etc.) cachets are mostly to blame. (I haven't yet seen your images, but I'd wager money on them being Space Voyage covers.) They rank very highly in a list of irritating space covers in my collection. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1985
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-23-2025 10:53 AM
Please no more background on NRO spacecraft. I supported several NRO spacecraft back when I was in the USAF and am well versed on designation and names of past programs. Three of the covers are Space Voyage and one is Inter Space. I don't have much use for them.
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Axman
Member Posts: 762
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 05-23-2025 10:59 AM
I wasn't giving you any background on NRO spacecraft designations. I was explaining to you in very simple terms that the cachets are wrong. |
Axman
Member Posts: 762
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 05-23-2025 11:38 AM
Gary Toth and Don Hillger's excellent website has an entire section on the bogus SAMOS covers.SAMOS (on other than SAMOS launch covers)
(SAMOS numbers presented in bold font are bogus). |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1985
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-23-2025 12:40 PM
Anybody want them? |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3971
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 05-23-2025 12:41 PM
I wonder how Robert Rank, cachet cover producer of this series of covers, was able to get so much information way back during the 1970's. Wasn't a lot of info. about the Big Bird/SAMOS/NRO satellite programs mostly classified at the time? That might help explain why some of his cachet designations, background text and illustrations are not always accurate in this case. We are talking about half-a-century ago. |
Axman
Member Posts: 762
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 05-24-2025 05:54 AM
So, Ken, "Space Voyage" covers were made by Robert Rank? I didn't know that. That is interesting information and ties a few loose ends together... |
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