Private Space Pilots Execute Orbital Missions for the U.S. Space Force

Militaries frequently utilize satellites to keep an eye on enemy vehicles and evaluate their capabilities, yet the U.S. military is increasingly finding that the private sector is better suited to address the expansion of this reconnaissance.

This underscores the recent rendezvous mission undertaken by two space startups, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab, for the U.S. Space Force, which was intricate enough to evoke a scene from “Top Gun.” Their competing satellites met in orbit, allowing one to capture images of the other.

This effort, known as Victus Haze, demonstrated the meticulous inspection of a space vehicle shortly after its orbital entry—a vital task amid a backdrop where the U.S., Russia, and China are deploying sophisticated space weaponry.

“China and Russia are continually advancing their capabilities in space, and part of the Space Force’s mission is to understand what these capabilities comprise,” remarked True Anomaly CEO Even Rogers, a former military space expert, in a TechCrunch interview. “Currently, our data collection capabilities have gaps.”

During the June mission, Rocket Lab, a competitor of SpaceX recently known for its acquisition of Iridium, successfully launched a spacecraft named Puma in just 16 hours and 42 minutes after being notified—a remarkable feat considering that most rocket launches require months of planning.

At the same time, True Anomaly’s Jackal spacecraft was poised in orbit to intercept Puma. For this exercise, the company had no prior knowledge of Puma’s entry point and depended on onboard sensors to find and identify its target from 2,000 kilometers away. The Jackal then approached the target—specific proximity details are classified—and orbited it, capturing images of various aspects of the vehicle before returning to its original orbit.

True Anomaly’s CEO stated that apart from human space missions conducted by NASA and the Space Force, “this may be the most advanced rendezvous and proximity operation between two spacecraft in contemporary history.”

Coordinating two spacecraft in orbit, both travelling nearly 17,500 mph, presents a formidable challenge. Previous demonstrations by private companies, like Northrop Grumman’s maintenance satellites or Astroscale’s debris removal missions, typically unfolded over slower timelines.

Now, the situation is set to become even more fascinating: The two companies are planning further exercises in the coming weeks that will ramp up in complexity, possibly involving Rocket Lab’s Puma attempting to evade True Anomaly’s Jackal while executing its own inspection maneuvers.

Founded in 2022 by Rogers and a group of former military space professionals, True Anomaly seeks to create both hardware and software to support new missions assigned to the U.S. Space Force since its inception in 2019. Following several years of developmental missions, last month’s demonstration is marking the realization of that vision.

“This is our unique advantage,” said Seth Winterroth, a partner at Eclipse Ventures who is on True Anomaly’s board. “It’s not just about one spacecraft design or software solution; it’s a deep comprehension of tactics and doctrine in this realm.”

True Anomaly has secured over $1 billion in funding, including a $650 million round in March. The company now aims to compete for several task orders, particularly within the Space Force’s $6.2 billion Andromeda program, which seeks private sector solutions for agile reconnaissance.

“Flight heritage is essential, and demonstrated capability is what resonates most with these opportunities,” Rogers noted.