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Lacrosse and '''Onyx''' are the code names for the United States' National Reconnaissance Office terrestrial Radar Imaging Reconnaissance Satellite . While not officially confirmed by the NRO or anybody in the U.S. government, there is widespread evidence to confirm its existence. 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. Early versions are believed to have used the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) to relay imagery to a ground station at White Sands , New Mexico . There are some indications that other relay satellites may now be available for use with Lacrosse. The name "Lacrosse" is used to refer to all variants, while "Onyx" is sometimes used to refer to the three newer units. FUTURE It has been said that the B-2 bomber was originally intended to use directly down-linked targeting data from Lacrosse satellites in order to aid it in its role of hunting down and destroying Soviet mobile ICBM launchers. It had been anticipated that the Lacrosse satellites would be replaced by the radar component of the Future Imagery Architecture (FIA). The severe program problems encountered by FIA in the early 2000s appear to have led to off-loading of radar reconnaissance to the Space Based Radar , later simplified to Space Radar, with initial launch anticipated around 2015 . LAUNCHES Five Lacrosse spacecraft have been launched, with four currently in Orbit .
The Orbital Inclination of 68°, combined with their altitude gives the satellites a complete view of the Earth 's surface, including the Pole s. EXTERNAL LINKS
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