Rocket Lab "VICTUS HAZE Puma" launch bulletin (unannounced surprise launch)

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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.

NextSpaceflight page: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7546/

VICTUS HAZE Puma

VICTUS HAZE will see Rocket Lab design, build, launch, and operate a rendezvous proximity operation (RPO) capable spacecraft. 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 Photon 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.

Rocket lab page? https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/victus-haze/

Rocket Lab will launch a tactically responsive space mission for the U.S. Space Force that includes the design, build, launch, and operation of Rocket Lab’s own spacecraft on an Electron rocket. The mission, named VICTUS HAZE, will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC).

The $32 million contract includes a Rocket Lab spacecraft, configured for the unique requirements of the VICTUS HAZE mission, that will launch on Electron within just 24 hours’ notice. 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.

The mission is targeted for launch in 2026.

As of this post, the RocketLab page does not acknowledge that this launch has occurred :)

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