“The Future is Now,” NRO Director says at 38th Space Symposium

Colorado Springs, CO. April 18, 2023 - The National Reconnaissance Office is advancing space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) beyond what was thought possible, with new capabilities on orbit, on the ground, and everywhere in between. Dr. Chris Scolese, director of the NRO, delivered this message in his keynote address at the 38th Space Symposium, an annual gathering of more than 10,000 space industry professionals.

“We’ve long talked about what the future could look like,” Dr. Scolese said. “In fact, it’s already here.”

The NRO is currently building the most proliferated, diverse, and resilient overhead ISR constellation it has ever had. Within the next decade, it expects to quadruple the number of satellites currently on orbit and deliver ten times as many signals and images as its current architecture does. This constellation will include large and small satellites in multiple orbits and will integrate both government and commercial systems.

Among the innovations Dr. Scolese described are integrating automation and machine learning and tapping emerging technologies the private sector is developing. This will enable the NRO to put more capability into space and deliver intelligence even faster.

“The future is now,” Dr. Scolese said. “The NRO is committed to accelerating our advantage in space. We are continuing to push boundaries and develop new and better technology to deliver the critical intelligence our policymakers, warfighters, and other users need, right when they need it. The safety and security of the world and our nation depend on it.”

NRO is the leader in developing, acquiring, launching, and operating the nation’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites to secure and expand America’s advantage in space. We are building a diversified and resilient architecture of spacecraft and ground systems designed to meet the challenges of a changing space environment by accelerating innovation and leveraging strategic partnerships, backed by a diverse and highly skilled workforce. At NRO, we See It, Hear It, Sense It so our nation’s warfighters and policymakers have decision advantage amid increasing global competition. Learn more at NRO.gov