NRO taps 5 firms for new electro-optical imaging capabilities

NRO taps 5 firms for new electro-optical imaging capabilities
NRO taps 5 firms for new electro-optical imaging capabilities

The five Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) contracts will allow NRO to study imagery and techniques used by the companies, which include novel ways of processing images to increase their fidelity and resolution.

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap
As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, “The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities.”

Maxar contracts startup Umbra to supply SAR satellite data

Maxar contracts startup Umbra to supply SAR satellite data
Maxar contracts startup Umbra to supply SAR satellite data

Under the deal, Maxar will be able to expand its SAR data offerings to international customers, and Umbra will get global eyes on its products, company officials told Breaking Defense.

To maximize Ukraine coverage, BlackSky shifted orbits for its newest satellites

To maximize Ukraine coverage, BlackSky shifted orbits for its newest satellites
To maximize Ukraine coverage, BlackSky shifted orbits for its newest satellites

“We’re talking to a lot of different organizations in the government — Space Force, the Army, the Air Force — many that are looking at how you could leverage commercial technologies and tactical ISR,” BlackSky CEO Brian O’Toole told Breaking Defense.

After Ukraine success, NRO says electro-optical imagery contracts due this summer

After Ukraine success, NRO says electro-optical imagery contracts due this summer
After Ukraine success, NRO says electro-optical imagery contracts due this summer

Payam Banazadeh, CEO of Capella Space, told Breaking Defense that the Ukraine war has been a “critical place for the industry to show itself,” but NRO says it isn’t accelerating the SAR acquisition process.

After success in Ukraine, NRO to pitch satellite firms on radio frequency geolocation

After success in Ukraine, NRO to pitch satellite firms on radio frequency geolocation
After success in Ukraine, NRO to pitch satellite firms on radio frequency geolocation

Pete Muend, director of the NRO Commercial Systems Program Office, told the USGIF GEOINT 2022 conference that RF tracking for Ukraine has been “great benefit,” and spy agency wants to expand the capability.

NRO contracts 5 commercial SAR firms for study, considers official acquisition

NRO contracts 5 commercial SAR firms for study, considers official acquisition
NRO contracts 5 commercial SAR firms for study, considers official acquisition

Later in the contracting process, NRO potentially will “have the wherewithal to purchase ad hoc imagery, data products and the like,” said Pete Muend, director of the spy agency’s Commercial Systems Program Office.

Newly public Planet aims for NRO contract, software investments

Newly public Planet aims for NRO contract, software investments
Newly public Planet aims for NRO contract, software investments

Planet is hopeful that NRO not only will be interested in its current 50cm resolution SkySat constellation, but also its newest constellation, called Pelican, which will be operational in 2023, said co-founder Robbie Shingler.

NRO Trims Red Tape For Commercial Imagery Data

NRO Trims Red Tape For Commercial Imagery Data
NRO Trims Red Tape For Commercial Imagery Data

“LiDAR is a really neat technology, and we’ve got to take advantage of it,” NRO Director Chris Scolese said.

Exclusive: NRO Erects Buy American Barriers Against Allied Satellite Data

Exclusive: NRO Erects Buy American Barriers Against Allied Satellite Data
Exclusive: NRO Erects Buy American Barriers Against Allied Satellite Data

The new policy is inconsistent with efforts by DoD and NGA to expand the trusted supplier base by better integrating allied firms into their acquisition chains, critics say.

Space Force Eyes Buying Commercial Satellite ISR

Space Force Eyes Buying Commercial Satellite ISR
Space Force Eyes Buying Commercial Satellite ISR

“Comms, data relay, remote sensing, and even ISR and some other things — [these] capabilities are increasingly available in the commercial market,” Space Force deputy Lt. Gen. DT Thompson said today.

Under Senate’s Eye, NRO, NGA Stress Commercial Imagery Plans

Under Senate’s Eye, NRO, NGA Stress Commercial Imagery Plans
Under Senate’s Eye, NRO, NGA Stress Commercial Imagery Plans

“NGA expects unclassified space-based geospatial data to become ubiquitous and widely available,” says NGA’s David Gauthier.

DNI Clapper Teases ‘Revolutionary’ Intel Future; Big Cost Savings From Cutting Contractors

DNI Clapper Teases ‘Revolutionary’ Intel Future; Big Cost Savings From Cutting Contractors
DNI Clapper Teases ‘Revolutionary’ Intel Future; Big Cost Savings From Cutting Contractors

COLORADO SPRINGS: The intelligence community is on the verge of “revolutionary” technical advances. Spy satellites and other systems will be able to watch a place or a person for long periods of time and warn intelligence analysts and operatives when target changes its behavior. Satellites and their sensors could be redirected automatically to ensure nothing is missed. “We will…

DigitalGlobe, Eager for Foreign Biz, Presses NOAA For Quarter Meter Resolution

DigitalGlobe, Eager for Foreign Biz, Presses NOAA For Quarter Meter Resolution
DigitalGlobe, Eager for Foreign Biz, Presses NOAA For Quarter Meter Resolution

WASHINGTON: In the next few weeks an unlikely government agency known more for weather than regulating satellites, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), may decide the international future of America’s commercial satellite imagery industry, dominated now by DigitalGlobe. NOAA licenses American commercial remote sensing satellites, which includes DigitalGlobe’s five satellites currently in orbit. One…