Space technology startup True Anomaly celebrated a major accomplishment with the successful deployment and communication establishment with its Jackal satellite during its second mission. The company aims to specialize in defense and national security, focusing on military orbital operations and space domain awareness.
Launched on December 21st via SpaceX’s Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission, the Jackal marked True Anomaly’s third spacecraft to reach orbit. While its first two satellites, launched in March 2024, aimed to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, communication was unfortunately lost shortly after launch.
In a December 23rd statement, True Anomaly’s co-founder and CEO, Even Rogers, confirmed the success of Jackal’s second mission: “We have now successfully contacted, downlinked data, and commanded Jackal, our Autonomous Orbital Vehicle, via Mosaic, our software platform, as it makes laps around the Earth.”
This mission serves as a testbed for upgraded hardware and software. Rogers further explained, “The team incorporated many of the learnings and product improvements from its first launch.”
This success propels True Anomaly forward as it prepares for a more complex mission under contract with the U.S. Space Force. The company is set to participate in the Victus Haze mission in 2025, a part of the military’s Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. This program aims to demonstrate advanced in-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations, with True Anomaly’s Jackal collaborating with a Rocket Lab spacecraft.
True Anomaly’s Chief Strategy Officer, Frank DiPentino, noted that over the next year, the company intends to further enhance Jackal’s capabilities. Their satellites are manufactured in Centennial, Colorado.