Electron | Victus Haze Puma | 19.06.2026

[Orionid]

8. start orbitalny Rocket lab w 2026.

Misja w ramach ćwiczeń wojskowych polegających na szybkiej identyfikacji i charakterystyce potencjalnych zagrożeń w kosmosie.

Misja dla U.S. Space Force obejmuje zaprojektowanie, budowę, wystrzelenie i obsługę własnego satelity Rocket Lab na rakiecie Electron.
Misja VICTUS HAZE ma na celu  demonstrację operacji zbliżeniowych i rendez-vous dla U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC).

Kontrakt o wartości 32 milionów dolarów obejmuje satelitę Rocket Lab, skonfigurowanego pod kątem unikalnych wymagań misji VICTUS HAZE, który może w razie potrzeby być wystrzelony na rakiecie Electron w ciągu zaledwie 24 godzin. Misja ma na celu udoskonalenie procesów i harmonogramów, aby zademonstrować zdolność SSC do reagowania na zagrożenia na orbicie w bardzo krótkich terminach.

https://space24.pl/bezpieczenstwo/technologie-wojskowe/szybkie-reagowanie-sil-kosmicznych-usa-wybrano-partnerow-do-misji

Kolejny supertajny ładunek
  19.06. o 10:20 z Onenui Station wystrzelona została RN Electron/Curie, która wyniosła na orbitę o parametrach:
hp=347 km, ha=461 km, i= 97,45º, ładunek wojskowy o nazwie kodowej Victus Haze Puma.
http://lk.astronautilus.pl/n260616.htm#09
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60698.0

Oficjalne informacje o starcie pojawiły się z opóźnieniem.

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 1:30 PM · Jun 19, 2026
NOTAM areas for a US military payload on a Rocket Lab Electron from Mahia suggest there was a planned launch today at 0819 UTC, but there's no news yet on whether such a launch actually occurred.

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2067933036952387729

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_·Jun 19
So far, no new notices have been published that'd indicate a scrub. However there were no back-up dates listed in the original notices. If it launched, we should hopefully get the announcement soon. If it's VICTUS HAZE and did scrub, it might be some time before the next attempt.

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_ 8:36 AM · Jun 20, 2026
Object 69646 (2026-142A) has been cataloged in a 354x467km@97.4° orbit, and it matches with a LC-1 launch at ~10:30 UTC! The object is not yet identified & no sign of Electron's stages yet, so not 100% sure, but it looks very likely Rocket Lab did launch something.
H/T  @mickeywzx

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2068221536335470644

Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus 4:21 PM · Jun 20, 2026
Electron launch from New Zealand, Jun 19
orbital http://focus.uk/2026#142
Mission reported to include rendezvous and proximity operations
Its orbit is coplanar with many of the sats from SpaceX launch 2026-100 so it's possible the target is among the 2026-100 payloads

https://x.com/OrbitalFocus/status/2068338403129618705

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 8:54 PM · Jun 20, 2026
Unannounced LAUNCH at about 1020 UTC Jun 19 by Electron from Mahia of the US Space Force mission VICTUS HAZE Puma, to a 347 x 461 km x 97.5 deg, 2241LTDN sun-sync orbit.

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2068407190868652392

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_ 7:52 PM · Jun 20, 2026
AND WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT ROCKET LAB DID LAUNCH VICTUS HAZE!
2026-142A has been identified by Space-Track as "VICTUS HAZE PUMA", and Electron's second stage has been cataloged as well.

https://x.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2068391495585944014

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 8:58 PM · Jun 20, 2026
The payload and the Electron second stage have been cataloged  by Space Force. I believe this may be a Rocket Lab Pioneer-class payload integrated with and attached to the Electron kick stage.

https://x.com/planet4589/status/2068408134566105116

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 8:54 PM · Jun 20, 2026
Unannounced LAUNCH at about 1020 UTC Jun 19 by Electron from Mahia of the US Space Force mission VICTUS HAZE Puma, to a 347 x 461 km x 97.5 deg, 2241LTDN sun-sync orbit.

Cosmic Penguin @Cosmic_Penguin 9:56 PM · Jun 20, 2026
Note that per previous public info, it’s likely it will approach and probably fly in formation with @The_TrueAnomaly’s JACKAL-004 (2026-100AJ/69012) - the original plan was to launch another Jackal S/C on a Firefly Alpha as the target S/C, but it seems plans were changed.

https://x.com/planet4589/status/2068433115404546283

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_ 2:30 PM · Jun 21, 2026
It's now been more then 50 hours since the VICTUS HAZE launch, and neither Rocket Lab nor the US Space Force have said anything. At this point I'd expect them to announce the launch once spacecraft commissioning has been completed, as that's part of the responsive space exercise.

https://twitter.com/GewoonLukas_/status/2068672900085735899

Potwierdzenie startu z 19.06.2026

Chris Ray @itschrisray 10:03 PM · Jun 20, 2026
🚨 $RKLB is confirmed to have launched its VICTUS HAZE mission yesterday from New Zealand.

This is a critical mission that will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC).

$RKLB was given just 24 hours notice prior to launch.

The mission is designed to improve Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) processes and timelines to demonstrate the SSC’s ability to respond to on-orbit threats on very short timelines.

Success here has big implications for Golden Dome contracts in the future… 👀

https://twitter.com/itschrisray/status/2068424438991781964

[Orionid]

Dopiero 3 dni po starcie firma Rocket lab zaczęła publikować informacje o starcie.

Taktycznie responsywna misja kosmiczna (Tactically Responsive Space TacRS) dla USSF SSC.
Od rozkazu do startu minęło 16 h 42 m.
Oznacza to najszybszy czas reakcji w historii USSF SSC
Został pobity o ponad 10 h poprzedni rekord TacRS ustanowiony przez misję VICTUS NOX 15.09.2023.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 10:37 PM · Jun 22, 2026
The Space Force called, and we launched. From call up to lift-off in just 16 hours 42 minutes 🎯 Rocket Lab has made history - the fastest response time ever for a @USSF_SSC Tactically Responsive Space mission.

Lifting off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 10:19 pm NZT on June 19th, the mission shattered the previous TacRS record set by VICTUS NOX by more than 10 hours. The feat establishes a new global benchmark for rapid call-up space capabilities.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2069157804846502360

Rocket Lab - 'VICTUS HAZE' Launch

[Orionid]

Misja VICTUS HAZE jest pierwszym przypadkiem, że jeden główny wykonawca zapewnił kompletną, zintegrowaną misję w ramach pakietu „wszystko w jednym” dla misji TacRS.
Firma Rocket Lab samodzielnie zaprojektowała, zbudowała i przetestowała wysoce manewrowalnego satelitę Pioneer, przeprowadziła szybki start, a obecnie zarządza operacjami na orbicie w ramach misji VICTUS HAZE.

Pioneer prowadzi obecnie operacje zbliżania i rendez-vous (RPO) na LEO, symulując scenariusz szybkiej reakcji na zagrożenie w obecności satelity nieprzestrzegającego przepisów.

Zdolność do szybkiego wystrzelenia statku kosmicznego, śledzenia obiektu w przestrzeni kosmicznej, fotografowania go i monitorowania jego zachowania w czasie rzeczywistym zapewnia Stanom Zjednoczonym i ich sojusznikom zdolność do rozpoznania sytuacji w przestrzeni kosmicznej oraz kluczowe dane wywiadowcze niezbędne do utrzymania przewagi USA w przestrzeni kosmicznej.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: "Our launch-plus-spacecraft integrated mission capability is transformative for responsive space. By launching on demand with spacecraft at-the-ready we've shown we can secure and defend the nation's space interests rapidly, and that’s a powerful capability for the United States and its allies. This is what modern space power looks like: the ability to reinforce and reimagine national security space architecture at will, and we’re proud to be providing the nation with those next-generation space capabilities, today.”

“We are excited to demonstrate advanced TacRS capabilities on orbit,” said USSF Lt. Col. Lincoln Miller, Space Safari system program manager. “VICTUS HAZE culminates the TacRS ‘crawl, walk, run’ phase of on-orbit demonstrations. We are confident in the technology and space operations expertise of our teams who have paved the way for rapid capability delivery to orbit in support of urgent operational needs. Rendezvous and Proximity Operations on such short timelines are certainly not trivial, especially in a crisis or conflict scenario, but this demonstration of our ability to commission a complex and capable space vehicle within less than 72 hours, and immediately begin an RPO scenario thereafter, shows that we can field capability to deny adversaries first-mover advantage into novel orbits.”

https://rocketlabcorp.com/updates/victus-haze/

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 11:58 PM · Jun 22, 2026
Tactically responsive space needs responsive launch and spacecraft - and we've got both 🚀🛰️

We've delivered our own Pioneer spacecraft to orbit from Electron for the @USSpaceForce's VICTUS HAZE mission - the first to do so in the @USSF_SSC's TacRS program - that's demonstrating rapid on-orbit response when and where it's needed.
 
Across the satellite's build, test, launch, and operations, we own the entire mission lifecycle - simplifying execution, reducing cost and schedule risk, and enabling rapid, responsive capabilities 🇺🇸

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2069178308127019153

Peter Beck @Peter_J_Beck 11:56 PM · Jun 22, 2026
Now…..we are on the hunt!

https://twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/2069177696496865412

[Orionid]

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 4:54 AM · Jun 23, 2026
The VICTUS HAZE mission explained.
Phase 1: Launch on demand 🚀 The @USSpaceForce's @USSF_SSC called, told us to launch, and just 16 hours 42 minutes hours later, Electron successfully left the pad from LC-1.

Phase 2: 🛰️ With Pioneer spacecraft checkouts complete 34 hours ahead of schedule, the chase is on to rendezvous with another satellite on orbit; one that doesn't want to be found.

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2069252818566058242

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 10:56 PM · Jun 23, 2026
Tactically responsive space launch 🤝 Commercial satellite with RPO capability

Rocket Lab is the first and only company to deliver both for a Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission by the @USSpaceForce and @USSF_SSC with VICTUS HAZE.

That means we designed and built the spacecraft, launched it on our own rocket, and now we're operating it on orbit. That's end-to-end space capability in action.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2069525009169797606

[Orionid]

4 godziny zajęło zespołowi GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) obliczenie czasu startu T-0 od momentu otrzymania zgłoszenia o starcie misji VICTUS HAZE od USSF SSC.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 11:48 PM · Jun 23, 2026
Four hours.

That's all the time it took for our GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) team to calculate our T-0 liftoff time from the moment we received the Notice To Launch for VICTUS HAZE from @USSpaceForce @USSF_SSC. Incredible work by our engineers on this new company record!

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2069538216584401400

Space Systems Command @USSF_SSC 8:37 PM · Jun 23, 2026
Our TacRS launch went to orbit June 19 as part of our multi-launch, multi-vehicle VICTUS HAZE mission. A demo of #USSF's capability to rapidly acquire, launch & operate space vehicles in response to urgent on-orbit threats. Shout out to mission partners! https://ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4523601/us-space-force-demonstrates-responsive-launch-for-victus-haze-mission-begins-on

https://twitter.com/USSF_SSC/status/2069489960936243447

[Orionid]

„Pioneer” jest zdolny do przewożenia ładunku o masie do 120 kg, który może zbliżać się do innych satelitów i przeprowadzać ich inspekcję z najwyższą precyzją.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 1:45 AM · Jun 24, 2026
Meet our Pioneer spacecraft bringing commercial RPO capability to space for @USSpaceForce and @USSF_SSC.

A highly configurable medium delta-V spacecraft that can carry up to 120kg of payload, Pioneer can approach and inspect other satellites with pinpoint precision.

✅ Autonomous navigation
✅ Engine relight capability
✅ Built entirely in-house with critical subsystems (solar, propulsion, radios, flight software) supplied by Rocket Lab

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/2069567547972976814

[Orionid]

W przypadku satelity Pioneer dla VICTUS HAZE, przejście od podpisania kontraktu do gotowości do startu zajęło około 18 miesięcy.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 1:57 AM · Jun 25, 2026
Satellite builds can take years. For our Pioneer spacecraft for VICTUS HAZE, going from contract to launch ready took ~18 months 💪🛰️
An incredibly aggressive timeline for an important mission for the @USSpaceForce and @USSF_SSC, and the team delivered.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2069932997785325597

[Orionid]

22.06.2026 Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle (JACKAL-0004) firmy True Anomaly, który został wyniesiony 03.06.2026, oficjalnie rozpoczął misję VICTUS HAZE.
Razem z Rocket Lab i partnerami z Sił Kosmicznych Stanów Zjednoczonych, True Anomaly będzie obsługiwać satelitę Jackal.

Po udanym programie testów w locie misji X-3 i oddaniu do użytku JACKAL-0004 i Mosaic, zespół operacyjny True Anomaly jest w pełni sprawny i gotowy do wykonywania operacji zbliżeniowych (rendezvous and proximity operations RPO) w ramach najbardziej zaawansowanego jak dotąd programu demonstracyjnego USSF dotyczącego systemu „Tactically Responsive Space” (TacRS).
https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/true-anomaly-begins-victus-haze

US Space Force demonstrates responsive launch for VICTUS HAZE mission, begins on-orbit operations
Published June 22, 2026

U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) has demonstrated a Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) launch capability with the liftoff of Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle from the company’s Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) in New Zealand on June 19, 2026, as part of the TacRS VICTUS HAZE mission. The mission will now transition into an on-orbit focus placing operationally relevant systems through realistic rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) threat response scenarios. (...)

With launch complete, the team will now complete on-orbit checkout and vehicle commissioning, after which RPO operations begin. During these operations, the teams operating both the Rocket Lab and the True Anomaly space vehicles will conduct a variety of scenarios, demonstrating Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and characterization capabilities, each in dynamic engagements with the other. (...)

VICTUS HAZE is a multi-launch, multi-vehicle mission designed to demonstrate the Nation’s capability to rapidly acquire, launch, and operate space vehicles on operationally relevant timelines in response to urgent on-orbit threats. Additionally, VICTUS HAZE leverages commercially developed products to provide highly capable options for future TacRS missions.

“VICTUS HAZE set out to demonstrate our ability to respond to irresponsible behavior on orbit under operationally realistic conditions, and we are doing just that, leveraging commercial partnerships to maximize flexibility and minimize cost,” said USSF Col. Bryon McClain, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) for Space Combat Power.

This was the second of two launches within the VICTUS HAZE mission, delivering Rocket Lab’s company-built response space vehicle to low-Earth orbit (LEO), which will now rendezvous with another VICTUS HAZE space vehicle already on orbit. This second space vehicle is True Anomaly’s Jackal, which was launched as part of a rideshare on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on May 3, 2026.

Prior to this launch, the Space Safari office placed the Rocket Lab team into a heightened state of readiness before directing them to activate into an alert status. The activation process took less than 48 hours. After a period of time, Rocket Lab was issued the Notice-to-Launch (NTL) order which required them to posture for launch to a previously unknown orbit within their performance ability with only a 24-hour notice.

“Not only does this mission open the door for acquisition of follow-on vehicles that allow our warfighters to close critical gaps and seams in a conflict scenario, it also presents a more immediate value by giving our current operators a crucial opportunity to exercise and improve LEO RPO tactics, techniques, and procedures,” Miller said. (...)

https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4523601/us-space-force-demonstrates-responsive-launch-for-victus-haze-mission-begins-on

[Orionid]

Perygeum Victus Haze Puma zostało podniesione do ok. 465 km.
Ma on takie samo nachylenie, znajduje się 40 km poniżej i prawie leży w tej samej płaszczyźnie co jego cel – Jackal 004.

Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus 10:08 AM · Jun 23, 2026
Victus Haze Puma

Orbit data is still flowing from Space-Track, latest shows perigee raised to create circular orbit at ~465 km
http://orbitalfocus.uk/2026#142

It has matched inclination, is 40 km below and is near co-planar with it's reported target - Jackal 004 (69012/2026-100AJ)

https://x.com/OrbitalFocus/status/2069331811214254333

True Anomaly @The_TrueAnomaly 6:05 PM · Jun 23, 2026
Moving from Mission X-3 into VICTUS HAZE was exactly the capability we had in mind when we designed Jackal: a spacecraft that could respond to on-orbit threats at a moment’s notice, mission after mission.

The path to VICTUS HAZE was through Mission X-3. Learn about how we got here:

https://twitter.com/The_TrueAnomaly/status/2069451861334102109

[Orionid]

Udało się zlokalizować, zbliżyć się, okrążyć i sfotografować przez satelitę firmy Rocket Lab (nazwanego „Puma”) innego satelitę „Jackal”, który otrzymał nazwę „Pantera”), co stanowiło zakończenie pierwszej fazy misji VICTUS HAZE.

Rocket Lab @RocketLab 11:58 PM · Jul 7, 2026
Mission success for VICTUS HAZE! 🚀🎯
We’ve officially completed the @usspaceforce @ussf_ssc
 primary mission which saw Rocket Lab build a high performance spacecraft, deliver rapid call-up launch on Electron, and conduct complex on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations - all ahead of schedule.

⏱️ Launch: Lifted off with just 16h 42m notice - the fastest response ever for a TacRS mission (beating previous record by 10 hours).

🛰️ Commissioning: Activated our Pioneer spacecraft in 38 hours (30 hours ahead of deadline).

📸 RPO Operations: Tracked, approached, and photographed the target satellite in under 59 hours (25 hours ahead of deadline).

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2074614074395230403

Rocket Lab completes Victus Haze mission
By Loren Blinde  July 13, 2026

On July 7, Rocket Lab Corporation announced mission success for its role in the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) VICTUS HAZE mission.

This historic mission required Rocket Lab to design, build, and test a Pioneer spacecraft for the USSF, launch it on Electron within 24 hours’ notice, commission the spacecraft within 72 hours, and then conduct complex rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) on orbit within 84 hours to pursue, monitor, approach, and photograph another target satellite in a demonstration of a rapid threat-response scenario.

Rocket Lab successfully completed all mission phases faster than the deadlines set by the Space Force, setting records and delivering new standards in responsive space, according to the company. (...)
https://intelligencecommunitynews.com/rocket-lab-completes-victus-haze-mission/

2)

True Anomaly @The_TrueAnomaly 2:15 PM · Jul 29, 2026
True Anomaly has successfully completed Mission 2 of VICTUS HAZE, the @USSpaceForce's end-to-end demonstration of tactically responsive space (TacRS).

Multiple mission plans built and validated in under 30 minutes, powered by tight integration between Jackal and Mosaic, and backstopped by our operators' expertise.

True Anomaly is now the first company ever to execute a space-to-space pursuit of an evading target in a TacRS mission.

https://twitter.com/The_TrueAnomaly/status/2082439747549770204

VICTUS HAZE Mission Update: Jackal Hunts Puma
7.29.2026

What We Executed

Space Systems Command tasked us on July 14.

Jackal’s crew produced a validated mission plan in under 30 minutes from tasking. Jackal executed ingress and a burn sequence over 23 minutes to close on Puma. When Puma maneuvered away during the approach, Jackal downlinked what it saw, and our team replanned, revalidated, and implemented a new mission plan in rapid succession. Jackal then executed fresh burns to reengage and image Puma. This mission—uncooperative rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)—requires seamless integration of attitude control, sensing, and maneuvering. This is all orchestrated by our Mosaic ground system and backstopped by our operators’ expertise.

This mission demonstrated Jackal’s ability to seamlessly execute and transition between open- and closed-loop tracking based on the mission objectives and phases of execution. Our Multi-Object Detection and Tracking (MODT) algorithm performed flawlessly and proved that it can rapidly generate hyper-accurate target orbit state estimates from onboard measurements.

https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/victus-haze-mission-update-jackal-hunts-puma