A US military exercise in space got underway with barely anyone noticing

Key Points:

• Rocket Lab conducted a covert launch of the Victus Haze Puma satellite from New Zealand as part of a US Space Force exercise to test rapid response capabilities in low-Earth orbit, with minimal public disclosure or official acknowledgment.
• The mission involves two satellites: True Anomaly’s Jackal-0004, launched in May, acting as a mock adversary satellite, and Rocket Lab’s Puma satellite, which launched to inspect and assess the Jackal satellite, demonstrating on-orbit threat evaluation.
• Victus Haze builds on the Space Force’s prior responsive space mission, Victus Nox, aiming to reduce satellite deployment times from years to hours, with a $92 million budget combining government and private funding.
• The mission includes complex maneuvers bringing the Puma satellite close to Jackal, eventually switching roles to test uncooperative rendezvous and proximity operations, showcasing advanced tracking and inspection technologies.
• This exercise underscores the Space Force’s commitment to enhancing rapid operational capabilities in space to counter potential adversary threats and protect US interests in orbit.