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U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

US
gov defenseFounded 1961
United States
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

NROL-146 is the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 22, 2024UPDATE SpaceX launches NROL146 on next gen spy mission sending the first reconnaissance satellite constellation

NROL-146 is the National Reconnaissance Office’s first deployment of a new imaging satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 22, 2024SpaceX launches NRO’s first batch of next-generation spy satellites

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.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Org RelationshipMay 21, 2024UPDATE SpaceX schedules Wednesday to launch NROL146 on a secret mission

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.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 14, 2024SpaceX to launch NROL146 on a secret mission to “increase timeliness of access, diversity of communication paths and enhance our resilience”

NROL-146 carries the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 14, 2024SpaceX to launch NROL146 on a secret mission to “increase timeliness of access, diversity of communication paths and enhance our resilience”

Scott expressed full confidence in the NRO's ability to take on the GMTI tracking mission, stating they already conduct similar operations globally.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Narrative GeneralMay 8, 2024Military surveillance constellation fuels debate over who calls the shots

The National Reconnaissance Office’s commercial space office plans to create a flexible contracting pipeline to onboard innovations from private remote sensing companies.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 8, 2024NRO outlines plan to onboard commercial satellite imaging technologies

The Department of the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office are developing the space sensors for GMTI.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 8, 2024Military surveillance constellation fuels debate over who calls the shots

Brett Scott, director of the NRO’s Geospatial Intelligence Information Systems Acquisition Directorate, emphasizes the necessity of transitioning to space-based surveillance capabilities.

Mentioned as: NROTechnical ProductMay 8, 2024Military surveillance constellation fuels debate over who calls the shots

Pete Muend helped establish the NRO Commercial Systems Program Office in 2018.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Narrative GeneralMay 7, 2024NRO expands commercial partnerships

The NRO is implementing an effort called Commercial GEOINT Integration to integrate multiple commercial capabilities from various vendors into the larger enterprise architecture.

Mentioned as: NROTechnical ProductMay 7, 2024NRO expands commercial partnerships

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.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Org RelationshipMay 7, 2024NRO expands commercial partnerships

The National Reconnaissance Office’s long-standing procurement strategy is summarized as "Buy what we can and build what we must."

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 7, 2024NRO expands commercial partnerships

The NRO works with mission partners including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Department of Defense, and the broader intelligence community to integrate commercial capabilities.

Mentioned as: NROOrg RelationshipMay 7, 2024NRO expands commercial partnerships

In 2022 the National Reconnaissance Office awarded Maxar a $3,200,000,000 contract to supply imagery and mapping services over the next decade.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Org RelationshipMay 2, 2024SpaceX launches Maxar’s first WorldView Legion imaging satellites

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.

Mentioned as: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Org RelationshipMay 1, 2024NRO’s first batch of next-generation spy satellites set for launch

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.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 1, 2024NRO’s first batch of next-generation spy satellites set for launch

The National Reconnaissance Office is preparing to launch the first phase of a new imaging satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductMay 1, 2024NRO’s first batch of next-generation spy satellites set for launch

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.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductApr 24, 2024Electron launches South Korean imaging satellite and NASA solar sail

Maxar’s largest contract is a $3.2 billion, 10-year agreement with the National Reconnaissance Office to supply imagery and other services.

Mentioned as: National Reconnaissance OfficeTechnical ProductApr 16, 2024Maxar Intelligence looks to evolve beyond traditional imagery business
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