The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Defense and a member of the United States Intelligence Community that designs, builds, launches, and operates reconnaissance satellites for the U.S. federal government. It provides satellite intelligence, including signals intelligence (SIGINT), imagery intelligence (IMINT), and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), to various government agencies like the NSA, NGA, and DIA. The NRO partners with organizations such as the U.S. Space Force, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX, and its activities include developing advanced satellite technology and launching assets into orbit. Keywords associated with the NRO include: reconnaissance satellites, intelligence, national security, and space-based surveillance.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched an undisclosed number of small spacecraft into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office on 2024-05-22.
The NROL-146 mission is described as the first launch of the National Reconnaissance Office’s proliferated architecture delivering space-based ISR.
NROL-146 is the National Reconnaissance Office’s first deployment of a new imaging satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
The National Reconnaissance Office planned six launches in 2024 for its proliferated architecture of small satellites.
NROL-146 is the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The NROL-146 mission will deploy the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.
NROL-146 is the first launch of the National Reconnaissance Office’s proliferated architecture intended to deliver space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
NROL-146 carries the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The National Reconnaissance Office’s commercial space office plans to create a flexible contracting pipeline to onboard innovations from private remote sensing companies.
The Department of the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office are developing the space sensors for GMTI.
The National Reconnaissance Office’s long-standing procurement strategy is summarized as "Buy what we can and build what we must."
NRO Director Chris Scolese awarded contracts worth $4,000,000,000 over 10 years to BlackSky, Maxar Technologies, and Planet in 2022 under the Electro-Optical Commercial Layer program.
Pete Muend helped establish the NRO Commercial Systems Program Office in 2018.
In 2022 the National Reconnaissance Office awarded Maxar a $3,200,000,000 contract to supply imagery and mapping services over the next decade.
The National Reconnaissance Office is preparing to launch the first phase of a new imaging satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
The National Reconnaissance Office is targeting a 2024-05-19 launch for the mission designated NROL-146 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The satellites for the NRO’s new constellation were built under a classified $1,800,000,000 contract awarded by the National Reconnaissance Office in 2021 to SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
The launch was the fifth flight 2024 for the Electron and the first in more than a month after a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office on 2024-03-21 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 in Virginia.
Maxar’s largest contract is a $3.2 billion, 10-year agreement with the National Reconnaissance Office to supply imagery and other services.
Following separation from Alpha, Elytra will support a responsive space demonstration for the National Reconnaissance Office that includes performing an on-orbit maneuver and deploying additional U.S. government payloads on-demand.