The system was developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Rocket Lab, and the US Space Force. It is designed to detect, track, and study spacecraft directly from orbit. The demonstration took place as part of the VICTUS HAZE mission, which focuses on rapid response to potential space threats.
The core of the system is an optical payload developed by LLNL. It uses monolithic quartz telescopes made from a single substrate, which provides high mechanical stability and lower costs. This design allows for faster integration into spacecraft.
The mission tested the deployment speed. Specialists entered the full payload into operation in less than 24 hours after launch, confirming the ability to start orbital missions almost immediately.
The system demonstrated angles-only navigation technology, which determines target movement parameters based solely on a sequence of optical images without direct distance measurement. All data processing is performed on board the satellite, creating an autonomous closed-loop navigation system.
