Render of a BlackSky Technology AROS broad-area-collection satellite. Credit: BlackSky Technology
SAN FRANCISCO – The National Reconnaissance Office awarded a contract modification to BlackSky Technology to accelerate development of AROS broad-area-collection satellites.
“The effort funds a direct path toward a flight ready multi-spectral, large-area mapping spacecraft and foundation data collection system in 2028,” according to the June 9 news release.
BlackSky, a provider of satellite imagery and analytics based in Herndon, Virginia, announced plans in 2025 to develop AROS satellites for applications that require broad geographical coverage including country-scale mapping, maritime monitoring and 3D digital twin applications.
“Developing BlackSky’s AROS constellation in partnership with the U.S. government cements a major step in securing U.S. global space competitiveness, resilience and maintaining critical operational continuity as commercially available foundation data becomes capacity-constrained in the coming years,” Blacksky CEO Brian O’Toole said in a statement. “BlackSky will design, develop and field the next generation of high-performance, AI-ready geospatial foundation data satellites, leveraging the proven heritage and reliability of our advanced Gen-3 architecture and vertically integrated agile manufacturing infrastructure.”
