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VICTUS HAZE mission patch
TBD

VICTUS HAZE

U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Name Origin

Derived from the Latin for 'conquered' or 'victory,' VICTUS HAZE is a U.S. Space Force mission designed to demonstrate Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) capabilities. The name signifies the mission's goal of rapidly responding to on-orbit threats to maintain space domain awareness.

"VICTUS HAZE"

Mission Overview

VICTUS HAZE will see Rocket Lab design, build, launch, and operate a rendezvous proximity operation (RPO) capable spacecraft. U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC)’s Space Safari’s VICTUS HAZE mission will be an exercise of a realistic threat-response scenario and on-orbit space domain awareness (SDA) demonstration. Once the spacecraft build is complete, Rocket Lab will be entered into a Hot Standby Phase awaiting further direction. Once the exercise begins, Rocket Lab will be given notice to launch the spacecraft into a target orbit. After reaching orbit, the spacecraft will be rapidly commissioned and readied for operations. Rocket Lab will configure a Pioneer class spacecraft bus to meet the unique requirements of the VICTUS HAZE mission. The mission will improve Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) processes and timelines, demonstrating the ability to respond to on-orbit threats on very short timelines and validating techniques for space domain awareness (SDA) and on-orbit characterization. Rocket Lab’s constellation-class production capability and discriminating technical capabilities in the areas of in-space propulsion, precision attitude control, low latency communications, and autonomous operations are key enablers for this mission.

Technical Details

Vehicle
Electron
Launch Site
Unknown Pad
Unknown
Target Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Mission Type
Government/Top Secret
Customer
U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC)