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U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

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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.

gov defenseFounded 1961
United States
www.nro.gov/About-NRO/
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The National Reconnaissance Office is the U.S. intelligence agency responsible for developing, launching, and operating the nation’s spy satellites.

GeneralValue 2.5Oct 5, 2021NRO’s strategy to buy satellite imagery shaped by thriving commercial market

The National Reconnaissance Office will require vendors under EOCL to sign end user license agreements so imagery can be shared across government agencies without additional licensing fees.

LegalRelationshipsGeneralValue 3.5Oct 5, 2021NRO’s strategy to buy satellite imagery shaped by thriving commercial market

NGA leveraged a National Reconnaissance Office commercial integration study contract with HawkEye 360 in September 2020 to execute a test and evaluation contract with the company.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 27, 2021HawkEye 360 Awarded Million$$ Contract From National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

NGA leveraged a National Reconnaissance Office commercial integration study contract with HawkEye 360 in September 2020 to execute a test and evaluation contract.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.0Sep 27, 2021National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Awards HawkEye 360 RF Mapping Contract

More than 90% of BlackSky’s current revenues are from government contracts primarily with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Department of Defense.

FinancialRelationshipsValue 4.0Sep 13, 2021Now officially a public company, BlackSky moving to expand sales and marketing

The Aerospace Corporation is a federally funded research and development center based in El Segundo, California that focuses on analysis and assessment of space programs for the Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Reconnaissance Office.

GeneralValue 2.0Aug 31, 2021Aerospace Corp. CEO sees winds of change in space procurement

The National Reconnaissance Office will continue to procure some commercial launches to lower costs and gain flexibility in launch locations.

RelationshipsPlanValue 3.0Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The National Reconnaissance Office launched 12 payloads into orbit on six launches from two continents last year.

GeneralPlanCapabilityValue 4.0Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The National Reconnaissance Office plans to conduct four launches in 29 days in 2022.

PlanValue 4.0Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office share personnel, share operations centers, have launched systems together, and mutually invest in and develop programs.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The National Reconnaissance Office is working with the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency to leverage the communications constellation the agency is developing.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 3.8Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The National Reconnaissance Office seeks to improve resiliency, capacity, and capabilities in its future satellite architecture by flying large and small satellites in multiple orbits.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.6Aug 24, 2021NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation

The Space Development Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Space Force, and the National Reconnaissance Office are seeking to deploy proliferated constellations in low Earth orbit.

PlanValue 3.0Aug 19, 2021Space surveillance sensor supplier Geost acquired by private equity firm

The National Reconnaissance Office awarded a contract modification to BlackSky Holdings, Inc. to provide on-demand satellite imagery.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Aug 18, 2021BlackSky gets NRO contract to provide on-demand satellite imagery

The National Reconnaissance Office awarded BlackSky Holdings a contract modification to provide on-demand satellite imagery through a monthly subscription.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.6Aug 17, 2021NRO Expands BlackSky Commercial Imagery for Security, Defense and Intelligence

The National Reconnaissance Office is a U.S. intelligence agency that develops and operates classified spy satellites and acquires satellite imagery from commercial vendors.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 3.0Aug 4, 2021National Reconnaissance Office exercises contract option for Maxar satellite imagery

The National Reconnaissance Office exercised a contract option to procure satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies through August 2022.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Aug 4, 2021National Reconnaissance Office exercises contract option for Maxar satellite imagery

The Department of Defense, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency are directed to submit a report identifying commercial vendors that provide global imagery to support military needs, gaps in geospatial intelligence, and an assessment of how commercial capabilities can be integrated into DoD programs.

LegalGeneralValue 2.1Jul 27, 2021House panel wants details on Space Force plans to upgrade launch infrastructure

The National Reconnaissance Office is part of the U.S. intelligence community and works with the Department of Defense to develop, acquire, launch, and operate the nation’s intelligence satellites.

GeneralValue 2.0Jul 14, 2021National Reconnaissance Office official picked to run Space Force acquisitions command

Michael Guetlein has been deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office since July 2019.

GovernanceValue 3.5Jul 14, 2021National Reconnaissance Office official picked to run Space Force acquisitions command
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