Canyon SIGINT satellites were in use during the same period as Aquacade satellites with an apparently different set of capabilities.
Notes on verification
Multiple independent sources with specific technical details confirm overlapping operational periods (1970-1977), distinct capabilities (COMINT vs TELINT), different orbital configurations, and separate ground stations. The verification cites five corroborating sources including specialized satellite tracking databases and military history resources with consistent information.
Sources
- Aquacade (satellite) (wikipedia)
- https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/rhyolite.htm (corroboration)
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Aquacade_(satellite) (corroboration)
- https://www.projectblackecho.com/declassified/black-projects/project-rhyolite-geostationary-signals-intelligence-program (corroboration)
- https://satelliteobservation.net/2017/07/31/history-of-the-us-high-altitude-sigint-system/ (corroboration)
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/canyon.htm (corroboration)