True Anomaly and Rocket Lab fly military satellite inspection missions for Space Force

Private aerospace companies True Anomaly and Rocket Lab are conducting orbital fly-by missions on behalf of the US Space Force. The missions involve spacecraft performing close proximity maneuvers near satellites, drawing comparisons to fighter pilot-style operations. These contracts reflect the Pentagon's growing reliance on commercial space firms for national security purposes. The work represents a shift toward privatizing sensitive military space operations that were once handled exclusively by government agencies.