# Prowler

> American reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14940655](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14940655)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prowler_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/prowler

## Summary
Prowler is an American reconnaissance satellite operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Launched in 1990 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, it was designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military applications. The satellite was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company and likely used the Boeing 376 spacecraft bus.

## Key Facts
- **Operator**: National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)  
- **Launch Date**: November 15, 1990, at 23:48:15 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-38)  
- **Launch Site**: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A  
- **Manufacturer**: Hughes Aircraft Company  
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Likely Boeing 376 (sourced circumstantially)  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1990-097E  
- **Country of Origin**: United States  
- **Class**: Reconnaissance satellite  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Prowler?  
A: Prowler was a reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military or strategic applications, operated by the NRO.  

### Q: When and how was Prowler launched?  
A: Prowler was launched on November 15, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (mission STS-38) from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.  

### Q: Who built Prowler?  
A: The satellite was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company, a major American aerospace and defense contractor.  

## Why It Matters  
Prowler represents a significant milestone in U.S. space-based reconnaissance efforts during the late Cold War era. As a classified satellite operated by the NRO, it contributed to intelligence-gathering capabilities critical for national security. Its launch aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis highlights the strategic use of reusable spacecraft for deploying sensitive payloads. While many details remain classified, Prowler's existence underscores the importance of covert satellite operations in maintaining geopolitical advantages.  

## Notable For  
- **Covert Operations**: One of the few publicly acknowledged NRO reconnaissance satellites with limited disclosed details.  
- **Space Shuttle Deployment**: Launched aboard STS-38, demonstrating the Shuttle's role in classified missions.  
- **Manufacturer Legacy**: Built by Hughes Aircraft Company, a key player in U.S. satellite development.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on **November 15, 1990**, as part of mission **STS-38**.  
- Deployed from **Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A**.  
- Used the **Space Shuttle Atlantis** as its launch vehicle.  

### Design and Specifications  
- **Manufacturer**: Hughes Aircraft Company.  
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Likely based on the **Boeing 376** platform (per circumstantial evidence).  
- **Operator**: National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), responsible for U.S. intelligence satellites.  

### Mission Context  
- Classified as a **reconnaissance satellite**, focusing on intelligence gathering.  
- Part of a broader U.S. effort to enhance space-based surveillance during the Cold War.  
- Few operational details are publicly available due to its sensitive nature.

## References

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