The U.S. Space Force has achieved a significant milestone in its tactically responsive space program by launching a satellite into orbit within just 27 hours from receiving launch orders. The mission, named Victus Nox, which means “conquer the night” in Latin, aimed to demonstrate the ability to rapidly acquire, build, integrate, and launch a satellite for national security purposes.
The Victus Nox mission was launched on September 14, 2023, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, using a Firefly Alpha rocket. The rocket carried a small satellite built by Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems, which performed a space domain awareness mission from low Earth orbit.
The successful mission was executed by the Space Systems Command’s Space Safari Program Office and the Rocket Systems Launch Program, in partnership with Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems. It involved various steps, including transporting the satellite, testing, fueling, mating it to the launch adapter, updating the trajectory, encapsulating the payload, and standing ready for launch at the first available window.
This achievement set a new record for responsive space launch, beating the previous record of 72 hours set by the Rocket Lab Electron rocket in June 2023. The mission also marked the third launch of Firefly’s Alpha rocket and the first launch of Millennium’s ALTAIR spacecraft platform.
The U.S. Space Force has emphasized that the Victus Nox mission is part of its end-to-end tactically responsive space demonstration. It proves the capability to rapidly integrate space capabilities and respond to potential threats or aggression on tactically relevant timelines. The Space Force has set a goal to develop the capability to launch national security satellites with just 24 hours’ notice by 2026, demonstrating the increasing importance of responsive space operations in national defense.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, spacenews.com
