The U.S. Space Force is set to test a modular satellite interface called Handle, developed by The Aerospace Corporation, in an upcoming mission under the Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. This "plug and play" technology aims to accelerate satellite integration and launch timelines, crucial for rapid-response missions. The Victus Salo mission, scheduled for fall 2026, will utilize this interface to demonstrate enhanced space domain awareness and quick deployment capabilities. The mission will be launched via SpaceX's rideshare program and will include a payload from MIT's Lincoln Laboratory.
The US Space Force has requested $60 million over the next two years for tactically responsive space, which would allow partners to launch satellites within 24 hours. The initiative aims to quickly replace lost satellites, including those shot down by enemy forces during war time. The Pentagon first expressed a desire for tactically responsive space in 2019, and Space Force demonstrated it in 2021. An upcoming mission called Victus Nox aims to demonstrate it again, and launch services company Firefly Aerospace and satellite manufacturer Millennium Space Systems have been awarded a contract for it.
The US Space Force has requested $60 million over the next two years for its Tactically Responsive Space program, which aims to demonstrate the capabilities of commercial launch vehicles to deploy small satellites on short notice. The program has been funded by congressional add-ons in the past, and the Space Force budget proposal includes $30 million for tactically responsive space in fiscal year 2024 and $30 million in fiscal year 2025. The program is intended to provide additional resilience in case adversaries attempt to shoot down DoD or commercial satellites providing services to the military.
