Farrah 3, 4, 5, 6 (P-11 5103, ..., 5106 / USA 32, 45, 81)

Farrah 3 [NSA]

This series of satellites were low orbit ELINT/SIGINT satellites, part of Program Jupiter and a continuation of the P-11 "Subsatellite Ferret" program.

Originally it was planned to launch these satellites together with improved Parcae satellites on the Shuttle. As it turned out that the combination was to heavy for Shuttle launche, the farrahs were moved to dedicated Titan-2(23)G launch vehicles, which put them into a very low orbit, which was then raised by their own propulsion system to a operational height of 790 km.

These satellites carried Farrah SIGINT payloads similar to the two Farrah subsatellites. The serial numbers of the P-11 satellite busses hint, that these were a modified and enlarged version. These satellites were drum-shaped to allow a transition of P-11 type payloads to be launched on the Shuttle. Due to the Shuttle requirement, the satellites were launched inactive only to be activated by a timer shortly after deployment. The satellites were transferred to Titan-2(23)G launch vehicles after Shuttle launches to polar orbits were cancelled after the Challenger accident.

The first satellite, Farrah 3 or USA 32, was launched into a near-circular 85°, 790 km orbit on 5 September 1988. Amateur observations hint that it was still operational in 2021.

The second satellite, Farrah 4 or USA 45 was launched on 6 September 1989, but failed to switch on after deployment from the rocket. So the propulsion system of the satellite could not raise orbit, leading to a reentry on 13 September 1989. If the satellite had raised its orbit, the orbital plane would have been 90° to the east of that for Farrah 3. The propulsion system failure was reportedly caused by an activation timer, which was not triggered after deployment.

A third satellite, Farrah 5 or USA 81 followed on 25 April 1992. The orbital plane of this satellite is 90° to the west of that for Farrah 3. Amateur observations hint that it was still operational in 2021.

The fourth satellite, Farrah 6 was partially built and placed into storage, when it was cancelled.

A follow-up series was called Lisa, but was cancelled.

In 1995 it was reported, that the program had ended with functiones consolidated into the Navy's Intruder (NOSS) series. As three of the six Titan-2(23)G launch vehicles, originally converted for classified use, were made available for other programs, it is likely, that this ELINT satellite program originally contained six satellites.