George Eberwine, Space Systems Command; Rick Yuan, Space Systems Command
https://doi.org/10.64861/NQFH9801
Keywords: TacRS, Tactically Responsive Space, RPO, Characterization, DSO, Dynamic Space Operations, USSF, VICTUS HAZE, VICTUS
Abstract:
The Space Domain is irreversibly shifting from a benign domain into a heavily contested, competitive, and congested environment that is critical for both national security and economic interests. The security and effectiveness of operations in Land, Sea, Air, and Cyberspace domains are intimately tied to timely delivery of on-orbit capabilities. Every day, billions of people rely on complex satellite constellations that support the world’s finances, transportation, and agriculture, providing essential services that transcend international borders and touch the lives of virtually every person on Earth. Major disruptions to satellite services would cause significant, perhaps irreparable, damage to 21st century life. In such an environment, the Space Force’s mission is clear: ensure that U.S. systems are resilient and that the U.S. and allies are capable of operating seamlessly through any form of conflict or crisis.
Perpetual and prolific Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is a foundational requirement for continued, sustainable use of space. There is increasing urgency for SDA and exquisite characterization capabilities as space emerges as a warfighting domain, especially due to the sheer number of resident space objects (RSOs) allowing potential bad-actors to hide in the noise, thereby greatly increasing the risk of any U.S. response mission. The dawn of proliferated LEO (pLEO) constellations presents a new challenge to SDA as activities become more difficult to detect and attribute. The most stressing scenario involves unwarned launch of a system with unknown capabilities. These new challenges necessitate that the United States Space Force establish tactically responsive operational capabilities that can allow U.S. space operators to gain and maintain SDA of a potential threat RSO with speed and precision. This ability to rapidly characterize the nature of any object will provide decision-makers with timely, fact-based information on the potential threat.
Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) is the doctrinal and operational answer to the above challenges presented by the Space Domain, and developments in this area are spearheaded by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Safari Program Office (SYD 89/OWT). Focused on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to operationalize contested rapid launch and dynamic maneuver, Space Safari missions build upon a strategic progression of successful pathfinder missions. TacRL-2 demonstrated the ability to execute a launch campaign on a tactically relevant timeline, compressing months of preparation into weeks. The subsequent VICTUS NOX mission proved the full-spectrum “call-up” model, taking a satellite in storage from the factory, mating it with a launch vehicle, and beginning on-orbit mission operations in a matter of days. VICTUS HAZE represents the next crucial step in the evolution of TacRS: demonstrating maintenance of an alert status, a rapid launch to an unknown orbit on 24-hour call up, and responsive on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) to directly assess a newly launched object.
The VICTUS HAZE mission was architected to validate the end-to-end process for tactically responsive on-orbit SDA using two distinct commercial contractors, space vehicles, launch providers, ground segments, and operations centers. From initial RSO detection to final assessment, the mission explored multiple demanding scenarios designed to stress each system’s capabilities. This tested the agility and robustness of the entire system requiring processes for maneuver detection, rapid trajectory re-planning, and precise command and control of the Space Vehicles (SVs).
Several key technical and operational pillars were foundational to the success of VICTUS HAZE:
1. Agile Propulsion and GNC Validation: The SV teams were required to execute validated and collision avoidance (COLA) screened maneuver plans to achieve RPO with an object launched into an arbitrary inclination and altitude on an operationally representative timeline. Mission plans required rapid validation prior to being uploaded and executed on the SVs.
2. Dynamic RPO Mission Planning: The ground segments utilized showcased a flexible, software-defined mission planning suite. These systems proved capable of generating fuel-optimized, passively safe trajectories that respect predefined keep-out zones to ensure transparency and responsible on-orbit behavior. The systems both created and ingested maneuver alerts and rapidly generated updated flight plans demonstrating the agility needed to maintain persistent RPO with a maneuvering RSO.
3. Accelerated Integration, Launch, and Early Operations (LEOPS): Leveraging commercial best practices and a risk tolerant posture, VICTUS HAZE dramatically compressed the SV-to-launch-vehicle integration timeline, launch, and on-orbit SV commissioning phases, which were reduced from a period of weeks or months to a matter of hours, allowing the RPO demonstration mission to commence almost immediately upon orbital insertion.
VICTUS HAZE successfully proved that a TacRS SDA characterization mission is not only achievable but can be done affordably. By employing flexible contracting strategies and partnering exclusively with innovative “New Space” companies, the mission filled a critical capability gap in threat assessment. By validating the ability to quickly gain situational awareness through RPO with an RSO, the U.S. is one step closer to fielding an enduring response capability that will ensure transparency and safety for freedom of navigation in the space domain. When fielded, TacRS RPO Threat Response Missions will fill a critical capability gap, namely the ability to rapidly remove ambiguity of newly launched and potentially threatening on-orbit objects, thus helping to ensure the stability of the Space Domain for all.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2026
Track: Conjunction/RPO