U.S. Space Force Is Learning To Scramble Rocket Launches Like They’re Fighter Jets

The U.S. Space Force is working on a program called Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) to launch rockets quickly, similar to how the Air Force scrambles fighter jets. Recently, Rocket Lab, a New Zealand space company with an American subsidiary, set a record by launching an Electron rocket with a payload in 16 hours and 42 minutes, 10 hours faster than the previous record. This was done as part of the TacRS program, with the objective of putting a Pioneer spacecraft into orbit to participate in a drill. The Space Force is trying to respond rapidly to potential crises in space, such as satellites being targeted in a conflict, and is working on being able to launch rockets quickly. The TacRS program is ongoing, with three more missions planned for the next year, including launches by SpaceX Falcon 9s and a Firefly Alpha. The goal is to be able to respond quickly to threats in space, and the program is making progress towards that goal. The ability to launch rockets quickly could be important in the future, as space becomes a more contested domain and the risk of satellites being targeted increases. The U.S. Space Force is working to develop the capability to respond rapidly to such threats, and the TacRS program is a key part of that effort.