Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle will be used to launch a Rocket Lab-built spacecraft for the Space Systems Command VICTUS HAZE mission.

Rocket Lab was awarded a $32 million contract from the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) contract to deliver the Victus Haze Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission. Rocket Lab will design, build, launch, and operate a rendezvous proximity operation (RPO) capable spacecraft. The mission was contracted under subsidiary Rocket Lab National Security on April 11.

SSC’s Space Safari’s Victus Haze mission is a threat-response scenario for on-orbit space domain awareness SDA demonstration. Rocket Lab and second performer True Anomaly, will both build RPO capable space vehicles and command and control centers. The mission is targeted for launch in 2025.

Rocket Lab will configure a spacecraft bus to meet the requirements of the Victus Haze mission and launch the spacecraft on Electron. Once on orbit, the spacecraft will conduct dynamic space operations to demonstrate SDA characterization capabilities with True Anomaly’s payload, the Jackal autonomous orbital vehicle.

“It’s an honor to be selected by the Space Systems Command to partner in delivering the Victus Haze mission and demonstrate the kind of advanced tactically responsive capabilities critical to evolving national security needs,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. 

This comes soon after Rocket Lab was awarded a $14.49 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for the Space Test Program (STP)-S30 on April 8. The mission falls under the SSC Assured Access to Space organization and is part of Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4).