Future Imagery Architecture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Future Imagery Architecture (FIA) is a program to design a new generation of US reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The development contract was awarded to a Boeing team in late 1999, and is estimated to possibly reach a value of US$25 billion over the ensuing twenty years.[1] The exact scope and mission of the program are secret, although the head of the NRO said in 2001 that the project would focus on creating smaller and lighter satellites.[2] Some industry experts believe that a key objective is to make the satellites more difficult to be attacked, possibly by placing them in orbits farther above the Earth. Because of the large size and budget of the program, as well as number of workers involved, some experts have compared it to the 1940s Manhattan Project.[2] Recently it has been rumored that the imaging part of the contract has been taken away from Boeing and given to Lockheed Martin. Boeing is to retain the radar portion of the contract.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Pae, Peter. "Massive Spy-Satellite Program to Cost Billions", LA Times, March 18, 2001. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Laura. "A peek into secrets most jealously guarded", Baltimore Sun, September 8, 2001. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
