NRO

You may have passed one without knowing it. Those giant white spheres are radomes. Inside could be weather radar, air traffic systems, or satellite antennas. The dome shields equipment from the elements while allowing signals to pass through.

Creativity begins with perspective. Seeing what others see is only the first step. Progress comes from thinking differently and turning new ideas into action. Innovation has always required the courage to imagine what does not yet exist.

Earlier today, Mr. William Adkins, principal deputy director of the NRO, spoke at the 41st Space Symposium highlighting how the NRO has accomplished its most significant transformation in its history. Read more here: nro.gov/news-media-fea…

How fast do satellites travel? The average satellite moves at roughly 17,000 miles per hour. A commercial airplane cruises at about 600 miles per hour. That incredible speed is what keeps satellites in orbit and moving continuously around the Earth.

Space missions do not run on autopilot. Behind every launch and every orbit adjustment is a dedicated team tracking telemetry, sending commands, and solving problems in real time. Mission Control is where strategy meets execution to keep operations moving safely and precisely.

In 1962, reconnaissance aircraft captured clear evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. That intelligence gave President Kennedy critical leverage and helped prevent a nuclear crisis just miles from U.S. shores. What was seen from above helped change the course of history.

Maj. Gen. Chris Povak, NRO’s deputy director, joined Purdue University’s Space Policy, Science + Technology Symposium, and discussed the risks of space debris and what NRO is doing to mitigate the issue. Read more here: nro.gov/news-media-fea…

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.