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.
Based on RFI responses, the National Reconnaissance Office awarded study contracts of undisclosed value to BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet.
United Launch Alliance received a U.S. Air Force contract modification on 2019-05-09 for a Delta IV Heavy launch of the NROL-68 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded United Launch Alliance a $149,000,000 contract modification on 2019-05-09 for a Delta 4 Heavy launch of the National Reconnaissance Office mission NROL-68.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded United Launch Alliance a $149,000,000 contract modification for a Delta 4 Heavy launch of the National Reconnaissance Office mission NROL-68.
The National Reconnaissance Office currently collaborates with the Air Force and other services and would need to collaborate with a created Space Force.
Mark Warner was concerned that the administration might try to merge the National Reconnaissance Office with the Space Force if Congress approves the new military branch.
Christopher Scolese intends to apply lessons from NASA about using commercially developed satellites to National Reconnaissance Office programs.
The National Reconnaissance Office was established in 1961 as a joint intelligence community and Department of Defense organization to develop, launch, and operate signals, imagery, and communications satellites.
The National Reconnaissance Office started as a secret program in 1960 established jointly by the U.S. Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Space Force will closely work with the National Reconnaissance Office regardless of whether the NRO is merged into the new service.
Space Policy Directive 4 directed a study, due in mid-August, on how the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office can better align their activities.
The National Reconnaissance Office took over NGA’s EnhancedView contract in August and awarded a $300,000,000 one-year contract for continued access to updated and archival Earth imagery from satellites operated by DigitalGlobe, a Maxar Technologies company.
The WFIRST spacecraft features a 2.4-meter primary mirror provided to NASA by the National Reconnaissance Office.
Acquisition personnel working on National Reconnaissance Office space programs and personnel who spent less than 50 percent of their time on space acquisitions were not included in GAO’s 8,000-person estimate.
A congressionally mandated Pentagon report in August 2018 stated that a whole-of-government approach would be needed to achieve the president’s vision for a Space Force and recommended improved integration with organizations including the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
The National Reconnaissance Office develops and operates overhead reconnaissance satellites and conducts intelligence-related activities.
The National Reconnaissance Office was created in 1961.
The National Reconnaissance Office operates ground stations at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
The Air Force recommended in a September memo that the next director of the National Reconnaissance Office also serve as the director of the Air Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office to establish unity of command and reduce duplication in space programs.
The National Reconnaissance Office launches satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.