The US Space Force is preparing for a ground-breaking mission to demonstrate its ability to manage conflicts within the orbit.
This project, the Victus Haze mission, will develop innovative ways to counter any threats in orbit. In collaboration with Rocket Lab and True Anomaly, the mission’s primary goal is to demonstrate that the military is equipped to confront threats in orbit by using early warning systems and quick response times.
The deployment of spacecraft manufactured by Rocket Lab and True Anomaly, each essential to modeling and addressing threats, is central to the mission’s goals. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft’s mission is to intercept and examine a satellite that True Anomaly launched to simulate hostile on-orbit maneuvers by potential enemies.
The mission’s goal, according to Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein, is to answer concerns about foreign satellites stationed in space and highlight the necessity of taking preventative action to safeguard national security interests.
To carry out the Victus Haze mission, Rocket Lab and True Anomaly’s spacecraft need to coordinate several maneuvers. Under the guise of a potential adversary’s asset, True Anomaly’s satellite will begin actions that follow threatening or suspicious behavior, causing Rocket Lab’s spacecraft to react.
As the CEO of True Anomaly, Even Rogers, puts it; the mission is a “sporty” project that pushes the frontiers of operational readiness and technology. Furthermore, the Victus Haze mission shows the Space Force’s transition from conventional models of satellite deployment and replenishment to strategically responsive space operations. Using cutting-edge technology and commercial collaborations, the Space Force seeks to improve its ability to react quickly to new threats and challenges within the space domain.