They carried large parabolic reflecting dishes, estimated at 10 m in diameter, and signals were transmitted to a center in Bad Aibling, West Germany.

However, the Soviets found out about it as early as 1975 and began taking preventative measures to stop their radio communications from being tapped into, including the replacement of satellite dishes with landlines.

In addition, Geoffrey Prime, a British member of the Government Communication Headquarters, had contacts with the KGB and funneled various information regarding US satellite intelligence, which may have included details on Canyon.

After a successful launch and orbital deployment, the satellite's mission ended disastrously when a ground controller sent an erroneous command that sent it into an unrecoverable tumble.

A fuel line obstruction was suspected of having blocked the flow of propellants to the sustainer gas generator, and the way was cleared for the Intelsat launch, which took place on December 20.