NRO

Earth’s orbit is getting crowded. Tens of thousands of objects circle the planet. At orbital speeds, even a marble-sized object can destroy a satellite on impact. Teams on the ground track debris and maneuver satellites to avoid collisions.

NRO is extremely proud of our director, Dr. Chris Scolese, for receiving the 2026 Goddard Trophy. 🌟 This prestigious lifetime achievement award is a testament to his significant contributions to national security and civil space throughout his career. Congrats!

Dr. Chris Scolese, NRO’s director, spoke at AAS’s 2026 Goddard Space Science Symposium earlier today. During his fireside chat he discussed advancing cutting-edge technologies, innovation, and speed. Read more here: bit.ly/3P7upPd

For more than six decades, the NRO has delivered unmatched situational awareness to those who protect and lead our nation. Through advanced imagery and signals data collection, space-based capabilities provide decision advantage when it matters most.

It is a balance of forces. A satellite’s forward velocity moves it ahead while Earth’s gravity pulls it inward. When those forces are aligned, the satellite follows a stable path around the planet.

Decisions are only as strong as the information behind them. Situational awareness means understanding what is happening in your environment in near or real time. It turns raw data into clarity, giving leaders the insight they need to act with confidence.

How do you capture perfectly clear images from 100 miles above Earth? In the past, engineers designed film that could survive radiation and temperature swings in space and developed powerful lenses capable of extreme detail. The result was a new era of space photography.

Presidents Day celebrates the leaders who have helped shape our nation. From the earliest days of the Republic to today, informed decision-making has been essential to protecting the U.S. Access to timely, reliable intelligence remains a cornerstone of that responsibility.

Space weather isn’t just a solar event. Solar storms can disrupt signals, overload power grids, and damage satellites in orbit. That’s why scientists constantly monitor the Sun. It’s the only storm that can affect every orbit at once.

NRO has released the first tranche of three awards for advanced commercial remote sensing capabilities! Maj. Gen. Povak made this announcement earlier today during his remarks at the Defense and Intelligence Space Conference. Read the press release: nro.gov/Portals/135/Do…

JUMPSEAT, the United States’ first-generation, highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite, has recently been declassified! Learn more about its history here: nro.gov/news-media-fea…

Pressure creates momentum. In space, on Earth, and across missions, the most critical solutions often start with urgent need. Plato had the right idea.

On Friday, NROL-105 successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. 🚀 NRO fields the most advanced and capable government constellation our nation has ever delivered with hundreds of satellites now on orbit.

MISSION SUCCESS: NROL-105 launched yesterday at 11:39 p.m. EST on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. In 2026 and beyond, NRO will continue to prioritize the accelerated deployment of next-generation systems. Press release: bit.ly/4r4hfjP

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @NRO_gov’s NROL-105 mission from pad 4E in California twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@NRO_gov About eight minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, announcing its arrival with a sonic boom

All systems are looking good and weather is favorable for liftoff. Propellant load is about to begin for tonight’s launch of the @NRO_gov’s NROL-105 mission from California → spacex.com/launches/nrol1…

Falcon 9 is vertical at pad 4E in California ahead of today’s launch of the @NRO_gov’s NROL-105 mission → spacex.com/launches/nrol1…

LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-105 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET January 16. This mission is NRO’s 12th overall proliferated architecture launch and first of 2026!

NRO welcomes our new principal deputy director, Bill Adkins! He brings a wealth of knowledge in space, intelligence, and defense earned through years of experience in government and industry. Read his full bio here: nro.gov/About-NRO/Lead…