US Space Force Conducts Secretive Orbital Response Exercise with Rocket Lab

The US Space Force conducted a low-profile military exercise on Friday when Rocket Lab launched a small satellite from its spaceport in Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, to test the military's ability to rapidly respond to threats in low-Earth orbit. The launch of the satellite designated Victus Haze Puma was announced to the public only through a standard warning to pilots and sailors to avoid the rocket's flight path. Rocket Lab, which typically livestreams its missions, did not broadcast this launch, and neither Rocket Lab nor Space Force officials had issued public statements about the mission as of Monday morning.

The exercise was only confirmed when the US military's catalog of space objects was updated over the weekend to include the newly launched satellite. The spacecraft was cataloged in a polar orbit ranging from 215 to 286 miles (347 to 461 kilometers) above Earth, with an orbital inclination of approximately 97.5 degrees from the equator.

The Victus Haze mission represents the Space Force's latest effort in responsive space operations. The Space Force announced the program in 2024, selecting Rocket Lab and True Anomaly as partners to build and launch two satellites into low-Earth orbit. The exercise works by having True Anomaly launch a satellite first to simulate an adversary spacecraft—such as one from China or Russia. Rocket Lab then maintains a satellite on standby, ready to launch on short notice to inspect and assess the target spacecraft in orbit.

The mission demonstrates the military's goal to dramatically compress the timeline for deploying new satellites and conducting orbital operations, moving from a traditional timeframe of years toward weeks, days, or even hours in response to emerging threats in space.