http://defensetech.org/2008/05/15/nro-loses-decision-powers-on-hush-hush-program/ The Future of the Military, Law Enforcement and National Security Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:06:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://defensetech.org/2008/05/15/nro-loses-decision-powers-on-hush-hush-program/#comment-179942 rick oborn Fri, 16 May 2008 11:32:28 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2845#comment-179942 NRO leaders have said for at least ten years that they must have a mix of satellites serving the country's various needs, including commercial -- and there are. Fact: NRO's satellites are never able to fill all the requests received on any day. The current discussion revolves around how best to incorporate commercial satellites and under what rules will they operate. NRO leaders have said for at least ten years that they must have a mix of satellites serving the country’s various needs, including commercial — and there are. Fact: NRO’s satellites are never able to fill all the requests received on any day. The current discussion revolves around how best to incorporate commercial satellites and under what rules will they operate.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2008/05/15/nro-loses-decision-powers-on-hush-hush-program/#comment-179940 CTR1(SW) Thu, 15 May 2008 23:20:25 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2845#comment-179940 This policy sounded crazy to me also. Then I reconsidered. By using commercial satellites for general mapping duties they are freeing-up the truly expensive and specialized satellites to focus on intelligence. This policy sounded crazy to me also. Then I reconsidered. By using commercial satellites for general mapping duties they are freeing-up the truly expensive and specialized satellites to focus on intelligence.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2008/05/15/nro-loses-decision-powers-on-hush-hush-program/#comment-39653 Colin Clark Thu, 15 May 2008 18:59:01 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2845#comment-39653 Commercial satellites cost much less to build than do those of the NRO. Their data can be distributed much more extensively -- to allies and to troops on the front lines who may not have security clearances needed to see TS/SCI or higher classified data. And the formal policy of the US government is that we shall rely on commercial imagery as much as possible. Commercial satellites cost much less to build than do those of the NRO. Their data can be distributed much more extensively — to allies and to troops on the front lines who may not have security clearances needed to see TS/SCI or higher classified data. And the formal policy of the US government is that we shall rely on commercial imagery as much as possible.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2008/05/15/nro-loses-decision-powers-on-hush-hush-program/#comment-179939 CJ Thu, 15 May 2008 16:43:53 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2845#comment-179939 Someone please clarify how it's a good idea to use commercial satellites for military and intelligence mapping. Do they use the same crypto modules as home-grown sats? Someone please clarify how it’s a good idea to use commercial satellites for military and intelligence mapping. Do they use the same crypto modules as home-grown sats?

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