WASHINGTON — The National Reconnaissance Office is preparing to launch the first phase of its new imaging satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
The agency is targeting a May 19 launch for the mission designated NROL-146 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Troy Meink, the NRO’s principal deputy director, said May 1.
Speaking at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on strategic forces, Meink said this will be the first operational launch of the NRO’s new proliferated architecture.
“We have already launched a number of demonstrations over the last few years to verify cost and performance to make sure we’re really comfortable and we know what we’re doing,” Meink said.
The agency has not disclosed how many satellites will launch on this upcoming mission or the projected size of the new constellation. Meink previously said six launches are projected in 2024 for the NRO’s future proliferated architecture of small satellites.
NRO to ‘quadruple’ its satellites in orbit
Agency officials said the NRO aims to quadruple the number of spacecraft in orbit. This expansion, coupled with the new technology aboard the satellites, is expected to deliver a ten-fold increase in intelligence gathering for the agency. Smaller, more numerous satellites will allow for far more frequent revisits of critical areas of interest, leading to faster delivery of crucial intelligence.
“Space based intelligence has become a primary, if not the primary, means of collection in denied areas,” Meink said at the hearing.
The satellites were built under a classified $1.8 billion contract awarded by the NRO in 2021 to SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, a contract first reported by Reuters in March.
Jamie Roberts
As a space enthusiast, I find the advancements in satellite technology truly fascinating! It’s amazing to see how the NRO is pushing the boundaries with these next-generation spy satellites. Can’t wait to witness the launch and see how this new architecture enhances intelligence gathering capabilities.
Space-based intelligence is crucial for enhancing national security, and I believe the NRO’s efforts to launch next-generation spy satellites will significantly strengthen our capabilities in this area. The decision to quadruple the number of satellites in orbit, along with the use of new technology, shows a strategic vision towards ensuring comprehensive intelligence gathering. I look forward to the advancements this mission will bring in terms of faster and more reliable intelligence delivery.