The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is partnering with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) on the historic, first commercial rocket to be launched from the UK, as announced at Defence Space 2022 by Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin. Virgin Orbit will send nine, multinational rideshares to orbit using the LauncherOne small launch platform […]
NRO
SpaceX + USSF’s Delta 30 Successfully Launch The NROL-85 Mission
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NROL-85 mission pushed off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, April17, at 6:13 .m., Pacific Time. Colonel Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, was the launch decision authority. “Today the Western Range teamed with the National Reconnaissance […]
Capella Space Receives NRO Contract To Demo SAR Satellite Capabilities
Capella Space has been contracted by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to demonstrate the company’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery capabilities. Through this contract, Capella will work with the NRO to provide SAR data modeling and simulation, end-to-end regional imagery responsiveness demonstrations, theater downlink demonstrations and sample imagery delivery. This contract follows an October 2021 […]
ICEYE Receives NRO Contract To Demo SAR Satellite Capabilities
ICEYE US, a subsidiary of ICEYE, has received a contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This contract enables ICEYE US to participate in the NRO’s evaluation of commercial, remote sensing companies operating synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. With a focus on modeling and simulation, ICEYE US will support NRO’s detailed assessment of imaging modes, […]
The CASTLE Is Opened By The NRO
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has officially opened the CASTLE — The Center for Advancing Science, Technology, Learning, and Engagements. The CASTLE is a collaboration with NRO’s Advanced Systems and Technology (AS&T) directorate, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and their partnership intermediary, the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC). NRO Director Dr. […]
NRO Director Reveals New Commercial Acquisition Opportunities Upcoming
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has announced a new acquisition, the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Framework for Strategic Commercial Enhancements, focused on new and emerging commercial capabilities. Under the new BAA Framework for Strategic Commercial Enhancements, the NRO plans to release independent focus areas multiple times per year. The BAA Framework and the first focus […]
The USSF’s NROL-111 Launch Via Minotaur From NASA’s Wallops Heads To Orbit
The U.S. Space Force successfully launched a classified payload on June 15 for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) aboard a Minotaur I rocket at 9:35 a.m. EDT from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. The NROL-111 mission is the third U.S. Space Force launch from Wallops and the NRO’s second Minotaur launch from Wallops. The launch vehicle, […]