True Anomaly images Rocket Lab's satellite in VICTUS HAZE drill
True Anomaly · Rocket Lab · Space Systems Command
True Anomaly's Jackal spacecraft found, approached, and photographed a Rocket Lab-launched target for Space Systems Command.
what happened
Per Payload, True Anomaly's Jackal spacecraft ("Panther") located and imaged a Rocket Lab-launched target spacecraft ("Puma") for Space Systems Command's VICTUS HAZE mission, completing full imaging and characterization in 61 hours against a 72-hour requirement. Rocket Lab had launched Puma within 17 hours of receiving the tasking order on June 19, 2026. True Anomaly said July 29 that after being tasked by Space Systems Command on July 14, its Jackal-0004 spacecraft carried out what the company called the first space-to-space pursuit of an evading target, executing uncooperative rendezvous and proximity operations to reach and image Puma after it maneuvered away, per Via Satellite. Payload reports Jackal produced a validated mission plan within 30 minutes of tasking, then flew a 23-minute ingress and burn sequence to close to about 10 kilometers of Puma.
why it matters
VICTUS HAZE is a live demonstration of tactically responsive space operations, pairing a launch provider with a rendezvous-and-proximity-ops company on Space Force's timeline against an unscripted, non-cooperative target; Payload reports Space Systems Command plans further, more complex missions in the coming months. True Anomaly CEO Even Rogers said Jackal has "barely made a scratch" in remaining fuel and capability, per Payload, pointing to room for more ambitious follow-on taskings.
for who
Space domain awareness and rendezvous-and-proximity-ops customers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- True Anomaly, Rocket Lab, Space Systems Command
- Category
- product
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-07-02
- Published
- 2026-07-06 12:46 UTC