A US military exercise in space got underway with barely anyone noticing
Summary
The US Space Force conducted a secretive military exercise by launching a small satellite called Victus Haze Puma from New Zealand to test quick responses to potential threats in low-Earth orbit. This mission involved two satellites designed to approach, inspect, and switch roles to demonstrate how the military could manage space-based threats with commercial partners.Key Facts
- Rocket Lab launched the Victus Haze Puma satellite on Friday from Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, with little public announcement.
- The launch was part of a US Space Force exercise to test rapid response in low-Earth orbit, where satellites circle the Earth at relatively low altitudes.
- The satellite entered a polar orbit between 215 and 286 miles above Earth, inclined about 97.5 degrees to the equator.
- Victus Haze Puma was launched to inspect another satellite, Jackal-0004, built by True Anomaly, which was launched on May 3 via a SpaceX mission from California.
- Jackal-0004 and Puma are maneuverable satellites designed to perform “rendezvous and proximity operations,” meaning they come close to each other and interact in orbit.
- Within eight hours of launch, Puma approached Jackal to within about 60 miles (100 km) of each other.
- The satellites will later switch roles, with Jackal inspecting Puma, showing advanced satellite capabilities for national security purposes.
- Both companies and military officials have kept details about the launch and mission mostly quiet, with no public livestream or formal statements as of early Monday.
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