Lacrosse / Onyx

Lacrosse under construction [NRO]

Lacrosse (later resigned Onyx) are terrestrial radar imaging reconnaissance satellite operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Martin Marietta (later Lockheed Martin) is the main contractor of these satellites. Lacrosse uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to perform mapping. Resolution is probably around 1 meter.

A space-based radar can penetrate clouds, and utilization of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques can potentially provide images with a resolution that approaches that of photographic reconnaissance satellites. A project to develop a SAR satellite was initiated in late 1976 under project Indigo. Development of the Lacrosse system was approved in 1983.

According to observers, the distinguishing features of the design of the Lacrosse satellite include a very large radar antenna, and solar panels to provide electrical power for the radar transmitter. Reportedly, the solar arrays have a wingspan of almost 45 meters, which suggests that the power available to the radar could be in the range of 10 to 20 kilowatts, as much as ten times greater than that of any previously flown space-based radar.

Lacrosse satellites are deployed in two different orbital inclinations, 57° and 68° of around 650 km height, but the satellites occasionally maneuvre to different heights.

Lacrosse 1 was deorbited in 1997 and Lacrosse 2 on March 26, 2011.

The Lacrosse program eded after the 5th satellite. The follow-on program is the FIA-Radar.