# Intruder 12

> American military ocean surveillance and SIGINT satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q136169935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136169935)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intruder-12

## Summary
Intruder 12 is an American military signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite in low Earth orbit, built by Lockheed Martin Space and operated by the United States Navy as part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System. It was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East on 2012-09-13 aboard an Atlas V 401 (AV-033) and is cataloged under COSPAR ID 2012-048P and satellite catalog number 38773.

## Key Facts
- Intruder 12 is a signals intelligence satellite (SIGINT) operated by the United States Navy.  
- Part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a series of U.S. Navy ocean surveillance and signals-intelligence satellites.  
- Launch date: 2012-09-13, launch time recorded as 21:39:00.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East.  
- Launch vehicle: Atlas V 401 (vehicle AV-033), launch contractor United Launch Alliance.  
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Space.  
- Mass: approximately 3,250 kilograms.  
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit.  
- Identifiers and aliases: COSPAR ID 2012-048P; satellite catalog number (SCN) 38773; also known as NOSS-3 6B, Intruder 10B, and USA-238-2.  
- Power: spacecraft solar array.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Intruder 12?
A: Intruder 12 is a U.S. military signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite used for ocean surveillance, operated by the United States Navy and built by Lockheed Martin Space.

### Q: When and how was Intruder 12 launched?
A: Intruder 12 was launched on 2012-09-13 (recorded time 21:39:00) from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East aboard an Atlas V 401 (AV-033) rocket provided by United Launch Alliance.

### Q: What are the technical identifiers for Intruder 12?
A: Intruder 12’s COSPAR ID is 2012-048P and its satellite catalog number (SCN) is 38773. It is also referred to as NOSS-3 6B, Intruder 10B, and USA-238-2.

### Q: Who manufactured and operates Intruder 12?
A: Lockheed Martin Space manufactured Intruder 12; it is operated by the United States Navy.

### Q: In what orbit does Intruder 12 operate?
A: Intruder 12 operates in low Earth orbit and is powered by a spacecraft solar array.

## Why It Matters
Intruder 12 is a component of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a dedicated set of U.S. Navy satellites for maritime signals intelligence. As a SIGINT platform in low Earth orbit, Intruder 12 contributes to the Navy’s ability to monitor electronic signals and maritime activity over wide ocean areas. Its deployment in 2012 continued a programmatic series of satellites (preceded by Intruder 11 and followed by Intruder 13) that maintain persistent ocean surveillance capability for national defense and maritime situational awareness. The satellite’s construction by Lockheed Martin Space and launch by United Launch Alliance on an Atlas V 401 places it within the established industrial and launch infrastructure used for U.S. military reconnaissance assets. For analysts and planners, Intruder 12 represents both an ongoing operational capability and a data point in the continuity of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System’s constellation.

## Notable For
- Being a part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a U.S. Navy series of SIGINT satellites focused on ocean surveillance.  
- Launched on 2012-09-13 aboard an Atlas V 401 (AV-033) from Vandenberg SLC-3E.  
- Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space and operated by the United States Navy.  
- Identified by COSPAR ID 2012-048P and satellite catalog number 38773, and known under multiple aliases (NOSS-3 6B, Intruder 10B, USA-238-2).  
- Mass of approximately 3,250 kg and powered by spacecraft solar arrays in low Earth orbit.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: Intruder 12.  
- Instance: signals intelligence satellite.  
- Program: Part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (U.S. Navy).  
- Country of origin/operator: United States / United States Navy.

### Launch details
- Launch date: 2012-09-13; recorded time 21:39:00.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East.  
- Launch vehicle: Atlas V 401 (designation AV-033).  
- Launch contractor: United Launch Alliance.  
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch at Vandenberg SLC-3E on 2012-09-13.

### Identifiers and cataloging
- COSPAR ID: 2012-048P.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 38773.  
- Aliases: NOSS-3 6B, Intruder 10B, USA-238-2.

### Manufacturer and design
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Space.  
- Power source: spacecraft solar array.  
- Mass: approximately 3,250 kilograms.  
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit.

### Program context and lineage
- Part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a series of signals intelligence satellites operated by the U.S. Navy.  
- Sequence: Follows Intruder 11 and is followed by Intruder 13 in the series.

### Operational role
- Classified in public records as a military ocean surveillance and signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite.  
- Operated by the United States Navy to provide SIGINT-related capabilities from low Earth orbit.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Intruder 12",
  "description": "Intruder 12 is a United States military signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite in low Earth orbit, launched on 2012-09-13 and operated by the U.S. Navy as part of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System.",
  "additionalType": "signals intelligence satellite",
  "identifier": [
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "propertyID": "COSPAR",
      "value": "2012-048P"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "propertyID": "SCN",
      "value": "38773"
    }
  ],
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Lockheed Martin Space"
  },
  "dateCreated": "2012-09-13T21:39:00",
  "isPartOf": "Naval Ocean Surveillance System"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/noss-3.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report