NRO readies open call for satellite remote sensing

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – The National Reconnaissance Office will invite companies to propose remote sensing capabilities on an ongoing basis.In the past, the agency responsible for designing, building and operating U.S. spy satellites has solicited proposals through Broad Area Announcements, which have defined timelines for submission and contract award.

Next year, the NRO will seek proposals through a contracting mechanism called Commercial Solutions Opportunity (CSO). Through CSO, the NRO will invite companies to submit proposals for electro-optical, radar, hyperspectral and other remote sensing modalities the agency has investigated through BAAs. The NRO also is looking for new capabilities like space-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), Pete Muend, head of the NRO’s commercial space office, said Oct. 24 at the MilSat Symposium here.

Specifically, the CSO seeks proposals from companies that have satellites in orbit or have a launch manifested to send spacecraft to orbit. The CSO will offer “rolling admissions,” Muend said. “Companies can submit when they meet those requirements.”

Commercial Radar Layer

Meanwhile, the NRO is continuing to work with other government agencies to establish a program of record for buying commercial synthetic aperture radar through a program called Commercial Radar Layer.

“The executive branch is probably within a few months of formalizing those requirements,” Muend said. “Then ultimately, Congress gets a vote as well.”

In 2022, the NRO awarded study contracts to synthetic aperture radar companies.

“We’ve been able to use that data and really ramp that up over time,” Muend said. “We’re very eager to move forward with a proper source selection to put in place contracts responsive to those requirements, hopefully next year.”

In the meantime, the NRO will “continue buying commercial radar, because we do have money to do that,” Muend said. “We certainly have needs and requirements both on the U.S. side as well as working with our partners and allies.”

Global Marketplace

Companies intent on working with the NRO must obtain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration remote sensing licenses. Additional requirements focus on U.S. ownership.

“We understand that this is a global marketplace, and we want U.S. companies to succeed in that marketplace,” Muend said. “I want to be able to turn around 10 years from now and continue to buy data from U.S. companies. And more broadly, I firmly believe that U.S. commercial space success is well aligned with U.S. national security interests.”