Space Force turns to startups for orbital reconnaissance

The mission tested the ability to detect and analyze foreign satellites on short notice, a capability the U.S. military deems essential as Russia and China continue to deploy advanced space-based technology. Rocket Lab successfully launched its Puma spacecraft just 16 hours and 42 minutes after receiving the order—a significant departure from the industry standard of months-long planning. Waiting in orbit, True Anomaly’s Jackal spacecraft used onboard sensors to track the target from 2,000 kilometers away before maneuvering to capture imagery.

Even Rogers, CEO of True Anomaly and a former military space veteran, characterized the operation as one of the most complex rendezvous missions in history, noting current gaps in the military's collection capabilities. Unlike previous commercial demonstrations focused on maintenance or debris removal, this exercise involved high-speed coordination at 17,500 mph. The companies now plan to escalate the complexity of future tests, with the Puma spacecraft expected to perform evasive maneuvers against the Jackal.

Founded in 2022, True Anomaly has secured over $1 billion in funding to support its development of hardware and software tailored for Space Force doctrine. The startup is now positioning itself to compete for contracts within the $6.2 billion Andromeda program, which seeks to integrate private-sector maneuverability into national security operations. For the military, the success of this mission provides a tangible proof-of-concept for outsourcing critical reconnaissance tasks to the private sector.