Prowler (satellite)
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| Mission type | Satellite inspection |
|---|---|
| Operator | US NRO |
| COSPAR ID | N/A |
| SATCAT no. | N/A |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | HS-376 |
| Manufacturer | Hughes |
| Launch mass | 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 November 1990, 23:48:13 UTC |
| Rocket | Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-38 / PAM-D |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Near-geosynchronous |
Prowler was an American reconnaissance satellite launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1990 to study Soviet satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The government of the United States has never acknowledged its existence, however it has been identified by amateur observers and through leaked information.[1]
Prowler was based on the HS-376 satellite bus, developed by Hughes. It had a mass of around 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb) and carried modifications to reduce its visibility to ground-based observers and to radar.[2] Following the satellite's retirement these modifications ceased to be effective, allowing it to be found by amateur observers.[3]
Prowler was designed to maneuver to within a few meters of satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Its purpose was either to monitor them and return data about them,[4] or to perform a signals intelligence mission such as intercepting communications between those satellites and the ground.[2][3]
Launch
It seems that Prowler was deployed from Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-38 mission. STS-38 was launched from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 23:48:13 UTC on 15 November 1990.[5] The mission was officially acknowledged to have deployed a single satellite, USA-67, which observers have since identified as part of the Satellite Data System.[6] Prowler was deployed from Atlantis at around 04:37 UTC on 17 November 1990, and boosted into geosynchronous transfer orbit by a PAM-D upper stage.[6] A second patch produced for the STS-38 mission showed a Shuttle orbiter in shadows above an illuminated orbiter; reversing the official mission patch; symbolizing the covert nature of the mission.[7]
