Lacrosse ( satellite ) Lacrosse or Onyx is a series of terrestrial radar imaging reconnaissance satellite s operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office . While not officially confirmed by the NRO or anybody in the U . S . government , for a long time , there was and is widespread evidence to confirm its existence , including one NASA website . In July 2008 , the NRO itself declassified the existence of their SAR satellite constellation . 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 U . S . Air Force as to whether a combined optical / radar reconnaissance satellite ( the CIA proposal ) or a radar - only one ( the USAF proposal ) should be developed was resolved in favor of the USAF . 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 . Unit costs ( including launch ) in 1990 dollars are estimated to be in the range of US $ 0 . 5 to 1 . 0 billion ( inflation adjusted US $ to billion in ) . 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 ( decade ) 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 . This program itself was axed by Congress late 2008 . The launch of NROL - 41 ( USA 215 ) in September 2010 has all orbital characteristics of a radar remote sensing platform ( see FIA ) and could be the first of a Lacrosse follow - up program . Its orbit is a retrograde version of the " frozen " Lacrosse orbit , the choice for a retrograde orbit itself indicating a SAR role . Launches . Five Lacrosse spacecraft have been launched , with three currently in orbit . The Lacrosses move in orbital planes either 68° or 57° inclined . These orbital inclinations of 68° and 57° , combined with their altitude give the satellites a complete view of the earth ' s surface , including the poles . Lacrosse 5 appears to differ somewhat from the previous four satellites . As determined by amateur observers , there are subtle differences in its orbit and its color is somewhat whiter than the distinct red - orange tint of the earlier ones . Most strikingly , it sometimes fades from brightness to invisibility within the space of a few seconds while still in full sunlight . ( The amateurs call this rapid fade its " disappearing trick " . )