Private space pilots are flying orbital missions for the US Space Force

True Anomaly and Rocket Lab carried out a U.S. Space Force mission, Victus Haze, in which one satellite located, approached, and imaged another soon after launch. Rocket Lab launched Puma less than 17 hours after notice, while True Anomaly’s Jackal used onboard sensors to identify the target from 2,000 kilometers away and perform a complex rendezvous operation.

The mission shows the Pentagon is turning to commercial space companies to close surveillance gaps as China and Russia deploy more advanced orbital capabilities. It also signals growing demand for responsive space operations, where rapid launches and autonomous satellite inspections become part of military readiness.