tech
Space Force-backed mission does its best impression of Top Gun in orbit
"Dogfighting in space doesn’t quite have the drama of an aerial dogfight."
TL;DR
- The Victus Haze mission, involving True Anomaly's Jackal and Rocket Lab's Puma satellites, demonstrated satellite pursuit and evasion in an unclassified setting.
- Rocket Lab achieved a record-breaking rapid launch for the Puma satellite within 17 hours of call-up by the US Space Force.
- The exercise simulated scenarios where satellites could inspect, pursue, and evade adversary spacecraft.
- True Anomaly's Jackal satellite successfully executed maneuvers to approach and track Puma, while Puma maneuvered to evade.
- The mission tested the ability of commercial contractors and the military to rapidly deploy and operate satellites in response to emerging threats.
- The exercise emphasizes the complexities and slower tempo of 'dogfighting' in space compared to aerial combat.