Source: Patch uncovers classified satellites
Although this is old news, it does show the team pride of participating in a satellite launch. Historically, patches were released to team members of a satellite launch. These are included in caps or uniforms, including space suits. Each launch would have its own unique patch to commemorate the event.
The difference here is that this patch was given to members of the Lacrosse satellite launch team by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Up until a few years ago, the NRO was a super-secret government agency tasked to collate data for military purposes. The data collection and collation was done with the use of satellites including the Lacrosse satellite. These were first launched in 1988. The patch was released in 2000.
The patch was released to show NRO’s appreciation to the members of the satellite launch team. To put this in its proper perspective, the NRO does not advertise its existence and neither does it advertise the satellite launches. For all intents and purposes, the patch is the only proof that the launches ever happened, beside the satellites themselves. The patch is not just a commemorative piece but more of a pat-on-the-back morale builder for the team members. It is not very often that a super-secret agency would give a hint to the public of the assets that they have, as well as acknowledging to the public that a person is an employee of the agency.
The patch is gold and silver on black background. It has the eyes of a owl (purportedly the NRO mascot) framed in a wire mesh design. The wire mesh is also the distinctive antenna of the Lacrosse satellite. There are four boomerang shapes with paths signifying the satellites already in orbit and their tracks. Emblazoned is the name of the agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and its slogan, “We Own The Night.”
This should be a good collectible.
