News

April 7, 2022

Have you heard of the “Blue Cube?"

Throughout its almost 50-year existence, few in the nation knew about the “Blue Cube” located in Sunnyvale, California. The Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was once home to a light blue, cube-shaped building, which was the distinguishing feature of the compound. This building represented the origins of U.S. space operations.In 1958, as

April 6, 2022

NRO Launch: A Pictorial History - 1996-2021

Earlier this year, The Dish sat down with Edwin Chapman, GEOINT Learning Center Lead, to discuss NRO launches and launch patches. In the episode, Chapman announced his book, NRO Launch: A Pictorial History—1996-2021. The book, produced in coordination with NRO’s Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance, is a compilation of declassified

March 8, 2022

Celebrating International Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day where we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day has been celebrated since 1911 (which makes this year the 111th anniversary) in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Its global reach and recognition came in 1975, the year the United Nations officially began

Feb. 22, 2022

Recognizing the first African American astronaut

Talented and brilliant, Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. was the first African American selected for spaceflight. He was born on Oct. 2, 1935 in Chicago where he graduated from Englewood High School at the age of 16. Lawrence then attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1956 at age 20. Upon graduation,

Feb. 15, 2022

Recognizing NRO's first Chief of Staff Mr. Garnett R. Stowe Jr.

NRO continues to recognize Black History Month with Garnett R. Stowe, Jr., NRO’s first chief of staff. A decorated combat aviator, Stowe joined the CIA in 1993, where he was responsible for coordinating full-spectrum intelligence collection programs across the U.S. Intelligence Community. In August 1994, Stowe became the executive assistant to the

Feb. 15, 2022

SSG guardians provide virtual presentations to students across the east coast

Space Systems Group’s (SSG) Space Force Lt. Col. Christopher Evey and Capt. Sam O’Hair are inspiring a younger generation to become interested in space; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and possibly becoming future Guardians. Both Guardians are doing this as part of the “STEM to Space” initiative—an initiative that links Space

Feb. 9, 2022

An interview with NRO’s First Chaplain

During Black History Month NRO will recognize those who did it first starting with Col. Regina Samuel. In 2020, NRO established its first Religious Affairs Support Team and Col. Samuel became the first chaplain to accept the new role. During her time as chaplain, the Office of Religious Affairs added a meditation room to NRO headquarters all NRO

Jan. 26, 2022

Episode 11: Sitting Down with NROL-87 Mission Manager Emily Stanhouse

One of the coolest jobs at the NRO is being Mission Manager of a launch. In an exclusive interview with #NROL87 Mission Manager Maj. Emily Stanhouse, we take an inside look at the role, the mission, and the hard work it takes to successfully put a payload on orbit.Featured in this podcast: NROL-87 Mission Manager Maj. Emily Stanhouse and NRO Public

Dec. 6, 2021

NRO director: Innovation is the key to America’s advantage in space

The National Reconnaissance Office has spent six decades developing the best space-based intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance systems in the world. These systems are a critical source of information for policymakers, analysts and the military. They are used to understand the intentions of those who wish to do us harm, as well as to support

Dec. 2, 2021

NRO reaches an unprecedented financial management milestone

For the thirteenth year in a row, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) achieved an unmodified opinion (clean audit) for fiscal year 2021 from independent auditors for its annual financial statements. Click here to read the entire Press Release