NRO
@NRO_gov
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Official X account of the National Reconnaissance Office—Innovative Overhead Intelligence Systems for National Security. Follows/RTs are not endorsements.
Chantilly, Virginia
Joined September 2014
On this September 11th, we pause to remember all the lives lost 24 years ago. We will never forget.
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The Space Race wasn’t just about the Moon. As the world watched the Apollo missions, NRO was launching covert reconnaissance satellites that gathered intelligence on Soviet activity throughout the Cold War.
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Since the dawn of the space age, NRO has been at the forefront of innovation. 🛰 Today, NRO celebrates 64 years of keeping America safe through intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
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It isn’t astronauts at the controls. It's engineers on Earth, working from ground stations to guide satellites and keep missions on track. From adjusting orbits to capturing the right data, their work ensures satellites deliver the data that space missions depend on.
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Mission defines the goal. Innovation makes it possible. Betty Sapp, former director of the NRO, showcases the mindset that shapes every launch, every system, every success.
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A satellite is any object that stays in orbit around a larger body. The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite, but planets can also capture asteroids, or even form rings made of small satellites. Others are manmade, designed to power things like communication and navigation.
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One satellite can observe. A constellation can change the game. Proliferated architecture means more eyes in more places - faster, safer, smarter.
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Before data went digital, it dropped from space. Early spy satellites ejected film capsules back to Earth — and pilots caught them mid-air. Miss the catch? A parachute. And a self-destruct. The mission: don’t let the film fall into the wrong hands.
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Yesterday, Maj Gen Chris Povak, NRO’s deputy director, opened the 2025 Air and Space Summit with a keynote focusing on NRO’s role in delivering ISR systems with precision and persistence. Read his full remarks here: https://t.co/49hwP5Ueot
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Each orbit offers different benefits—from the area covered to how often a satellite passes over a region. Understanding these orbits helps explain how we get the right data at the right time. #NRO #NationalReconnaissanceOffice #OrbitalMechanics #SpaceExplained #IntelinOrbit
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Speed. Clarity. Precision. This quote from Edwin Land, a pioneer in instant imaging, captures the mission mindset behind satellite reconnaissance. When timing matters, seeing clearly — and immediately — can make all the difference.
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Satellites power more of daily life than most people realize: communication, navigation, emergency response, earth observation, defense, and scientific research. Their value isn't just above us - it's all around us.
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ISR is the foundation of decision-making. Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance work together to deliver the right insight at the right time.
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On Memorial Day, NRO honors the brave servicemembers that made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. They are not forgotten.
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3 NRO launches in 8 days! Here are a few highlights of NROL-192, NROL-174, and NROL-145 all from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Thanks to our partners with @USSF_SSC, @SpaceX, and @northropgrumman. Learn more about these missions here: https://t.co/gjhnShyBho
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