United States · founded 1960 · US agency that builds and operates reconnaissance satellites. Its existence was itself classified until 1992.
VERIFIED 18 September 1992
Existence declassified
The Deputy Secretary of Defense announced the declassification of the existence of the NRO; no other information about the office was declassified at that time.
Sources (opened in a new tab):
DoD memorandum for correspondents, 18 Sept 1992 (via FAS) ↗ https://irp.fas.org/nro/dod091802.html
National Security Archive (GWU): Out of the Black: The Declassification of the NRO ↗ https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB257/
VERIFIED 22 February 1995
CORONA satellite imagery ordered released
Executive Order 12951 directed that imagery from the CORONA, ARGON and LANYARD missions be declassified and transferred to the National Archives.
Sources (opened in a new tab):
Federal Register: Executive Order 12951 ↗ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1995-02-28/html/95-5050.htm