Status
Success
NOSS-3 1A & 1B (USA-160) (NROL-13)
Launch Time
Sat Sep 08, 2001 15:25 UTC
Sat Sep 08, 2001 15:25 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
NOSS-3 1A & 1B (USA-160) (NROL-13)
NOSS-3 (Naval Ocean Surveillance System), which is likely not the official designation, is the third generation of NOSS satellites, which are low orbit SIGINT satellites. In 2013, the designation Intruder leaked out. These satellites carry equipment to track ships and aircraft via their radio transmissions. Positions of the origin of the transmissions are determined by triangulation. Each launch consists of two satellites of similar size in the same orbit. Both satellites maneuver to stationkeep relative to one another.
Payloads: 2
Location
SLC-3E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Stats
2001
40th orbital launch attempt
Atlas II
54th mission
3rd mission of 2001
54th successful mission