Tuesday, May 20, 2025

NRO warns commercial imagery providers: Budget cuts are coming - GEOINT 2025

Plus: Gabbard announces priority shift, Wyvern releases new hyperspectral images and more
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SpaceNews journalists are reporting from the 2025 GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis, Mo., this week. We'll bring highlights to your inbox — for full coverage, go to SpaceNews.com.

Satellite firms brace for potential imagery budget cuts in 2026


By Sandra Erwin and Debra Werner


The National Reconnaissance Office has privately warned its commercial satellite imagery providers of potential funding cuts that could slash as much as one-third from the previously projected $450 million commercial imagery budget for the upcoming fiscal year, industry and congressional sources told SpaceNews.


The issue came to light last week during a House Armed Services Committee hearing when Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), ranking member on the Strategic Forces subcommittee, referenced "rumors" that the NRO had been directed by the White House Office of Management and Budget to scale back commercial imagery funding in its upcoming budget request.


A congressional committee source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a 30% reduction in commercial imagery spending being sought by the administration is consistent with the information Moulton referenced during the hearing.


Read more


Wyvern hyperspectral image of the Richat Structure, a geological feature in northwestern Mauritania also known as the Eye of the Sahara. This image was taken by Wyvern's Dragonette-001 satellite on July 23, 2024. Credit: Wyvern

Wyvern hyperspectral image of the Richat Structure, a geological feature in northwestern Mauritania also known as the Eye of the Sahara. This image was taken by Wyvern's Dragonette-001 satellite on July 23, 2024. Credit: Wyvern

More coverage


Gabbard signals shift in U.S. intelligence collection priorities

By Sandra Erwin

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced a reorientation of U.S. intelligence collection efforts toward border security and counternarcotics operations, describing it as "the biggest shift in collection priorities in [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] history."


SI Imaging Services to offer leasing of high-resolution imaging satellite

By Debra Werner

In addition to offering tasking of its latest satellite, South Korea's SI Imaging Services will invite customers to lease capacity. Eugene Kim, executive vice president for Satrec Initiative, SI Imaging Services' parent company, told SpaceNews to "Think of it as Airbnb for remote-sensing satellites."


Wyvern publicly releases 25 hyperspectral images

By Debra Werner

Canadian hyperspectral startup Wyvern is publicly releasing 25 additional images including scenes of Afghanistan's Kandahar Airfield and an Iranian port explosion. Wyvern launched its Open Data Program in February "to help catalyze the use of hyperspectral data across industries and research communities," Kristen Cote, Wyvern co-founder and chief technology officer told SpaceNews by email.


Geospatial intelligence agency urges faster AI deployment

By Sandra Erwin

Artificial intelligence continues to loom large over the future of U.S. geospatial intelligence. Speaking at the GEOINT Symposium on May 18, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Brett Markham said the agency is making strides with AI but emphasized that full-scale adoption is still a work in progress.


Kuva to offer maritime-domain insights with satellite on deck

By Debra Werner

Hyperspectral imagery startup Kuva Space will expand its focus on maritime-domain awareness with its second satellite scheduled to launch in June. Kuva has delivered Hyperfield-1B, a 60-kilogram satellite with significant technical improvements compared with Hyperfield-1, to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for launch on the next SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare.


NATO allies to pledge capabilities to address growing threats

By Debra Werner

At the June NATO summit in the Netherlands, allies will outline specific capabilities to contribute to the alliance. NATO allies are expected to boost defense spending as high as 3.5% of their gross domestic products in response to growing threats.



Editor's note: Some recipients received an incomplete version of Monday's newsletter. A complete version was later sent.


Space Minds at the GEOINT Symposium

"I feel a disconnect between the (executive) orders and the budget lines."

Robert Cardillo, president of the Cardillo Group, speaking about the use of commercial capabilities in an interview May 20 with Chief Content and Strategy Officer Mike Gruss at the 2025 GEOINT Symposium. Listen to the latest episode on SpaceNews.com, YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts, and be sure to subscribe for updates all week with special guests at the GEOINT Symposium.

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