Colorado-based True Anomaly has partnered with Firefly Aerospace to facilitate three autonomous orbital vehicle launch missions for the US Space Force’s Victus Haze program.
Victus Haze aims to develop a tactical spacecraft that can deter threats in space with “available response options necessary.”
Under the partnership, the companies will jointly fly True Anomaly’s proprietary Jackal orbital vehicle using Firefly’s Alpha rocket between 2025 and 2027 to evaluate the spacecraft’s “rendezvous and proximity operation” capabilities.
The initiative requires the consortium to remain on call until the space force greenlights a rapid manifest and launch request.
Once notified, the team will have 24 hours to move the corresponding articles to the pad, integrate the Jackal with the Alpha, complete fueling, and launch within the first available window.
The in-orbit operations will involve maneuvers near a second Victus Haze performer Rocket Lab.
The location of the launch is expected from either the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California or the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Providing ‘Asymmetric Capabilities’
True Anomaly received the primary Victus Haze mission contract from the US Space Force in April 2024.
The $30-million project ordered the spacecraft construction, hot standby, launch, and in-orbit operations phases, with the vehicle’s assembly at the company’s manufacturing center in Denver.
Meanwhile, Firefly underwent a preparatory test mission from September 2023 to February under similar conditions called “Victus Nox” to inform the future Haze trials.
“VICTUS HAZE is an exemplar for how strong partnerships between the US government and an exceptional industry team can create asymmetric capabilities at record speeds,” True Anomaly CEO Even Rogers stated.
“Firefly Aerospace has consistently demonstrated innovation and agility in the rapidly evolving landscape of responsive space launch logistics and space vehicle deployment.”
“The procurement of additional rapid, responsive launch capacity from Firefly beyond VICTUS HAZE, paired with True Anomaly’s rapid manufacturing capability, will enable standing capacity for the US National Security Space enterprise to rapidly respond to mission requirements in Low Earth Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit.”