Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 48 2008

Lacrosse and Onyx are the code names for the United States National Reconnaissance Office terrestrial radar imaging reconnaissance satellites. While not officially confirmed by the NRO or anybody in the US government, there is widespread evidence to confirm its existence. According to former Director of Central Intelligence Admiral Stansfield Turner, Lacrosse had its origins in 1978 when a dispute between the Central Intelligence Agency and the US Air Force as to whether a combined optical/radar reconnaissance satellite or a radar-only one should be developed was resolved with a decision to produce separate systems.

Lacrosse uses Synthetic Aperture Radar as its prime imaging instrument. It is able to see through cloud cover and also has some ability to penetrate soil, though there have been more powerful instruments deployed in space for this specific purpose. The name "Lacrosse" is used to refer to all variants, while "Onyx" is sometimes used to refer to the three newer units. Five Lacrosse spacecraft have been launched, with four currently in orbit.

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