The Dish: Behind the Scenes at NRO

Following a successful launch, mission manager Major Jason Rose talks about his experience working the final Delta IV Heavy launch, NROL-70.

In this post-launch interview, Maj. Rose shares insights on the preparation leading up to launch, his reflections working multiple Delta IV Heavy launches, as well his thoughts on being the last mission manager for the last Delta IV Heavy launch.

New from "The Dish", we sit down with Ben Fallon, NRO's outgoing Director of Congressional and Public Affairs, to get his perspective on how the NRO is modernizing strategic communications and increasing transparency to increase the trust of the American people. Raising awareness of the NRO and its mission is critical towards building that trust, developing industry partnerships, and recruiting talent that will advance our national security.

New from "The Dish," we sit down with Megan Keller, NRO's Chief of Talent Acquisition and Development to explore a career in human resources and how to launch your own future at NRO. Topics include NRO benefits, navigating the application and onboarding process, and how you can be a part of the mission.

In an interview with SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 Mission Manager Captain Chris Daugherty, we take an inside look at his role, the mission, and the hard work from he and his team to successfully put the payload on orbit.

Following a successful launch, mission manager Major Jason Rose talks about his experience working the second to last Delta IV Heavy launch, NROL-68.

In this post-launch interview, Maj. Rose shares insights on the preparation leading up to launch, his memories working multiple Delta IV Heavy launches, as well his thoughts on being the last mission manager for the last Delta IV Heavy launch.

New from "The Dish," past NROL mission managers sat down with Col. Chad Davis to commemorate his time as launch director.

From navigating launch challenges to learning leadership lessons, and all the dad jokes in between, take a look into his tenure.

Speaking on location from Vandenberg Space Force Base following a successful launch, mission manager Capt. Mike Shenk talks about what his experience was like working the last two Delta IV Heavy launches from the West Coast. In this post-launch interview, Capt. Shenk shares insights on the preparation leading up to launch, the moments before the final countdown, as well as the friendships and memories from NROL-91 that he'll continue to look back on.

Speaking on location in New Zealand, NROL-162 and -199 OSL Mission Manager, Maj. Joe Chestnut talks about the two missions, about working with the New Zealand Space Agency, which licensed the launch, and with Rocket Lab, the launch provider. NROL-162 launched from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex-1 e July 13. NROL-199 launched from the same location on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket Aug 4.

NROL-162 and -199 launch services were acquired using NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR)contract. RASR enables the NRO to explore new opportunities for launching small satellites through a streamlined, commercial approach. These missions demonstrate NRO's capability to launch multiple rockets from overseas locations within days of one another. This speed and agility are critical as NRO innovates faster, working with government partners to keep the world safe and secure. NROL-162 and -199 carried national security payloads designed, built, and operated by the NRO in partnership with AUS DoD.

This recording was conducted just prior to the successful launch of NROL-199.

Maj. Schirner was the mission manager for NROL-85, which launched out of Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on April 17 at 6:13 a.m. Pacific Time. In our first post-launch interview with a mission manager, Maj. Schirner discusses what his experience was like working with the NROL-85 team on this mission.

Featured in this podcast: NROL-85 Mission Manager Maj. Jon Schirner and Deputy Director of NRO's Office of Public Affairs Andrea Williams

***The views, information, or opinions expressed during "The Dish" podcast are solely those of the individual(s) involved and do not necessarily represent that of the National Reconnaissance Office or its employees.***

For Women’s History Month, NRO invited Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, Curator and Department Chair of the Space History Department for the National Air and Space Museum. Dr. Weitekamp studied as a women’s historian for her undergrad and graduate degrees and has written several publications on women in space. Prior to her joining the Air and Space Museum, she spent a year in residence at NASA headquarters as an American Historical Association NASA Aerospace history fellow. Launch into her spectacular story on the one year anniversary of The Dish.

Featured in this podcast: Curator and Department Chair of the Space History Department for the National Air and Space Museum Dr. Margaret Weitekamp and Director of NRO's Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance Dr. James Outzen

***The views, information, or opinions expressed during "The Dish" podcast are solely those of the individual(s) involved and do not necessarily represent that of the National Reconnaissance Office or its employees.***