- Two space startups, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab, completed a rendezvous mission for the U.S. Space Force, with their satellites meeting in orbit for close inspection.
- The Victus Haze exercise demonstrated the ability to inspect space vehicles soon after launch, addressing gaps in U.S. collection capabilities against rivals like China and Russia.
- Rocket Lab launched its Puma spacecraft within 16 hours of notice, while True Anomaly's Jackal intercepted it using onboard sensors from 2,000 km away and captured imagery.
- The mission was described as one of the most complex rendezvous operations in modern history, involving high-speed orbital maneuvers.
- True Anomaly, founded in 2022, combines hardware and software to support Space Force tasks, backed by over $1 billion in funding, including a recent $650 million round.
- Future exercises may involve evasive maneuvers and reciprocal inspections, with the company aiming to compete for contracts under the Space Force's $6.2 billion Andromeda program.