Tag

Nro

All articles tagged with #nro

technology19 minutes ago•161 min saved

Spy-Satellite Tech Shapes NASA's Roman Space Telescope

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is built largely from unused optics donated by the National Reconnaissance Office from the failed Future Imagery Architecture program; NASA repurposed two donated space telescopes, replaced electronics, and integrated them into a next‑gen observatory set to launch Aug. 30 on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, pursuing dark energy studies and exoplanet science. The reuse is pitched as cost-saving, but experts disagree on how much money was saved, especially in light of JWST-style budget pressures.

via Space|

#nasa #nro #roman-space-telescope

military-space2 months ago•13 min saved

Blue Origin lands national-security launch order as New Glenn investigation unfolds

The U.S. Space Force awarded Blue Origin a National Reconnaissance Office launch task order under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program for a single launch (NRO Task Order-4) planned for late 2027 to early 2028 from Cape Canaveral, hours after a New Glenn pad explosion. The award signals a push to diversify national-security launch providers while Blue Origin investigates the anomaly and prepares a rebuild; Space Force and NRO reaffirm their partnership and will work with Blue Origin on root-cause actions.

via SpaceNews|

#blue-origin #military-space #new-glenn

space3 months ago•72 min saved

SpaceX launches covert US spy satellites into orbit from California

SpaceX launched the US government’s spy satellites (NROL-172) from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base atop a Falcon 9, part of the NRO’s proliferated architecture to widen signals and imagery across multiple orbits; the first stage landed on a drone ship after liftoff, and SpaceX and Northrop Grumman-built satellites will expand the United States’ space surveillance capabilities.

via Space|

#falcon-9 #nro #nrol-172

technology3 months ago•4 min saved

SpaceX launches NRO’s expanding satellite constellation on NROL-172

SpaceX launched the NROL-172 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg on a Falcon 9, with booster B1097 landing on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. The NRO’s proliferated architecture uses hundreds of satellites—electro-optical, radar, and relay satellites—to boost revisit rates, coverage, and resilience, including inter-satellite optical communications as part of a future space-data network. The mission is part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, following earlier NROL flights (e.g., 145, 48, 105) and some procurements outside NSSL.

via Spaceflight Now|

#falcon-9 #nro #nrol-172

space5 months ago•3 min saved

Vulcan Grounding May Trigger Space Force, NRO Launch Delays

The grounding of ULA’s Vulcan rocket after a motor anomaly could force delays or reassignments for multiple Space Force and NRO missions, with near-term impacts on WGS-11+, Next-Gen GEO, and SILENTBARKER. GPS III SV-10 has been shifted to SpaceX Falcon 9 as launch manifests adjust, while Space Systems Command and the NSSL program are evaluating affected timelines. ULA says no Vulcan flights will occur until corrective actions are completed and a GEM 63XL upgrade is planned for the next Vulcan mission; an investigation into the anomaly is underway.

via breakingdefense.com|

#gps-iii-sv-10 #nro #space

technology6 months ago•4 min saved

JUMPSEAT Unmasked: The U.S.'s Cold War Space Signals Pioneer

Declassification reveals JUMPSEAT, the U.S. Navy? No, the NRO/USAF’s first-generation highly elliptical orbit signals-collection satellite (launched 1971–1987 under Project EARPOP). The program gathered electronic emissions and intelligence from space, informing the DoD, NSA and other national security entities, and laid groundwork for later high‑elliptical orbit missions; it operated through 2006 and is now recognized as a pivotal Cold War–era space reconnaissance pioneer.

via nro.gov|

#jumpseat #nro #signals-intelligence

space11 months ago•2 min saved

SpaceX Launches Reconnaissance Satellites from Vandenberg

The NRO launched its 11th batch of reconnaissance satellites, believed to be Starshield, into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg, marking a continued effort to build a resilient and extensive satellite constellation for intelligence gathering, with the mission featuring the booster’s 18th flight and return to the launch site.

via Spaceflight Now|

#falcon-9 #nro #reconnaissance-satellites

technology1 year ago•1 min saved

SpaceX Launches Spy and Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload and 20 Starlink satellites. However, for the second consecutive West Coast launch, SpaceX will not provide a livestream of the countdown and liftoff, citing no specific reasons. The launch window opens early Saturday morning, with a backup opportunity later that night. The mission involves a first-stage booster making its maiden flight, which will land on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. The secrecy surrounding the launch has led to speculation about national security concerns.

via Noozhawk|

#falcon9 #nro #spacex

space1 year ago•3 min saved

SpaceX to Launch Spy and Starlink Satellites from California

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on November 30, carrying U.S. spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and 20 Starlink satellites. This mission, NROL-126, is part of the NRO's "proliferated architecture" strategy, which involves deploying numerous smaller, resilient satellites. The Falcon 9's first stage will attempt a landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first launch and landing for this booster.

via Space.com|

#falcon9 #nro #satellites

space-and-rocket-launches2 years ago•4 min saved

"SpaceX's Starship Set for Rapid Turnaround with Fourth Launch in May"

SpaceX aims to launch the next Starship test flight in early May, potentially impacting small satellite launch providers. Rocket Lab successfully launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, marking its fourth launch from Wallops Island, Virginia. Astrobotic's Xodiac rocket completed its first night flight in preparation for upcoming NASA testing to simulate lunar surface landings.

via Ars Technica|

#astrobotic #nro #rocket-lab

spacetech2 years ago•4 min saved

"SpaceX Developing Network of Hundreds of Spy Satellites for U.S. Intelligence"

SpaceX is reportedly working with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to develop a classified system of swarming spy satellites, worth $1.8 billion, capable of Earth-imaging and sharing data with U.S. intelligence and military officials. The program, managed under SpaceX's Starshield unit, aims to provide continuous imagery of global activities, intensifying competition in space military power. The leaked contract raises concerns about the public's limited knowledge of SpaceX's classified work, while highlighting the U.S. military's reliance on the company.

via Gizmodo|

#nro #spacetech #spacex

space3 years ago•2 min saved

Delta 4 Heavy rocket successfully launches classified spy satellite.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spy satellite on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The launch was ULA's first of 2023 and the Delta 4 Heavy's 15th and penultimate launch before its expected retirement. The NRO requested that ULA end the webcast after the nose fairing was jettisoned. ULA is under contract to launch one more NRO satellite on the Delta 4 Heavy in 2024 before retiring it and replacing it with the new Vulcan Centaur rocket.

via SpaceNews|

#delta-4-heavy #launch #nro

space3 years ago•10 min saved

ULA Scrubs Penultimate Delta IV Heavy Launch Attempt from Cape Canaveral.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has delayed the launch of its Delta 4-Heavy rocket carrying a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) due to a problem with a ground systems pneumatics valve. The launch has been rescheduled for Thursday, with an 80% chance of favorable conditions. The NRO's Advanced Orion satellites are believed to intercept telephone calls, data transmissions, and other types of communication by U.S. adversaries. ULA is retiring the Delta family of rockets in favor of the new-generation Vulcan launch vehicle, which is scheduled to make its first test flight later this year from Cape Canaveral.

via Spaceflight Now|

#delta-4-heavy #launch-delay #nro