The U.S. Space Force has selected Rocket Lab and True Anomaly for a mission to counter “on-orbit aggression” by adversaries like China. Rocket Lab received a $32 million contract through the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, while True Anomaly was awarded $30 million by the Space Force’s innovation arm SpaceWERX.
Both companies will develop spacecraft and a command center for the Victus Haze mission to exercise a threat response scenario in orbit. The objective is to demonstrate the ability to respond to irresponsible behavior in space.
Col. Bryon McClain highlighted China as a key orbital adversary, emphasizing the need to leverage the commercial space industry’s innovations for national security.
The delivery deadline for the mission is set for fall 2025, with True Anomaly launching from Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Rocket Lab launching from Mahia or Wallops Island.
The Pentagon’s 2023 report revealed the tracking of 47,900 space objects, underscoring the importance of achieving space domain awareness for safe and effective space operations.
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman stressed the need to harness commercial space innovation to outcompete rivals like Russia and China. The Commercial Space Strategy aims to integrate commercial solutions into the Space Force’s operations.
The Pentagon also released its Commercial Space Integration Strategy, focusing on leveraging commercial space assets for national security interests and emphasizing resilience and diversification in space solutions.
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