Not vanguard

The Vanguard space program was set up to launch the first US satellite. The
aim of the Vanguard program was to
develop a rocket capable of launching a 9-kg (20 lb) satellite into earth
orbit. The first two launches were public failures.
By the time Vanguard I had successfully launched into earth orbit, Explorer
I had become the first US artificial satellite
and the Soviet Union had launched two Sputniks. 8 out of 11 attempts failed,
and the program was terminated

The correct name is echelon some more info about it on
http://mprofaca.cro.net/echelonfr.html
http://capo.org/opeds/pp0615.htm


Echelon is NSA's Cold War-vintage global spying system, which consists of a
worldwide network of clandestine listening
posts capable of intercepting electronic communications such as e-mail,
telephone conversations, faxes, satellite
transmissions, microwave links and fiber-optic communications traffic.

Peter
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Mark Willis
> Sent: Sunday, August 01, 1999 4:37 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [OT] Right to Listen - Reversed
>
>
> Heard a rumor about a satellite system whose entire purpose is tapping
> US and other nations' electronic signals from space, anyone else heard
> of that?  Project (Vanguard or something or other, I don't remember),
> could be real or an urban legend or ???  Supposedly reads your e-mail &
> mine, etc.  Sounds like more reading than this list, a horrid fate <G>
>
>   Mark