SAMOS-F orAir Force Program 102 refers to a series ofSIGINTreconnaissance satellites launched and operated by theUnited States Air Force andNational Reconnaissance Office during the 1960s.^[1] Initial priorities (in decreasing order) were to monitorradio waves in the frequency bands 2.5-3.2 GHz (S band), 9.0–10 GHz (X band), and 59-650 MHz. The intercepted data and their location were stored on magnetic tape, and subsequently transmitted to tracking and acquisition ground stations. Tracking stations were located in the NE (New Boston, New Hampshire), Central (Ottumwa, Iowa), and NW (Fort Stevens (Oregon)) of the continental United States, with additional test sites atVandenberg AFB, California, and at Ka'ena Point,Oahu, Hawai.^[2] The satellites are also calledAgena ferrets andheavy ferrets.^[3] Approximately sixteen heavy ferrets were launched intolow Earth orbits fromVandenberg Air Force Base between February 1962 and July 1971 aboardThor-Agena andThorad-Agena rockets.^[4][5] Almost everything about these satellites remainsclassified.

• Signals intelligence satellites
• Reconnaissance satellites of the United States
• Satellite series
• Military equipment introduced in the 1960s

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata