Jumpseat satellite taking shape in a factory. NROThe declassification of certain elements of the Jumpseat program was announced by the director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the Pentagon intelligence branch responsible for U.S. government reconnaissance satellites. JUMPSEAT, the United States’ first-generation, highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite, has recently been declassified! — Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) January 29, 2026As a signals-collection satellite, Jumpseat was an important part of the broader signals intelligence (SIGINT) community. NROJumpseat emerged from Earpop as “the United States’ first-generation, highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite.” HEO refers to an elongated, egg-shaped trajectory, which is especially relevant for a spy satellite.