Jackal is True Anomaly's autonomous orbital vehicle built for space domain awareness and rendezvous and proximity operations, combining a high-thrust 20-thruster propulsion stack with a multi-spectral sensor suite for contested-space missions.
Jackal
Jackal is True Anomaly's autonomous orbital vehicle built for space domain awareness and rendezvous and proximity operations, combining a high-thrust 20-thruster propulsion stack with a multi-spectral sensor suite for contested-space missions.
Description
Jackal is True Anomaly's flagship autonomous orbital vehicle, designed to give the U.S. and allied militaries a highly maneuverable, payload-agnostic, low-cost platform for space domain awareness and autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations across LEO, GEO, and cislunar space. Built in an ESPA-Grande form factor, Jackal pairs a 20-thruster high-performance propulsion stack with a large propellant tank, and its integrated multi-spectral RPO sensor suite (powered by True Anomaly's Mosaic autonomy software) provides long-range detection and tracking through close-range imaging in all lighting conditions. The spacecraft uses modular, rapid-fit mission hardpoints to host diverse payloads, with GEO variants adding radiation-tolerant electronics and cislunar variants adding deep-space communications. Target customers are defense and national security organizations, notably the U.S. Space Force. As of mid-2026, Jackal has flown across three Mission X demonstration flights: the first two Jackal AOVs launched in March 2024 but did not complete on-orbit RPO objectives due to anomalies; a follow-up launched in December 2024; and Mission X-3 (JACKAL-0004) with the Mosaic software stack was declared successful, and has since begun operations supporting the U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE tactically responsive space demonstration with Rocket Lab.
Specifications
| Thruster configuration | 20-thruster high-performance propulsion stack |
|---|---|
| Form factor | ESPA-Grande with large propellant tank |
| Delta-v (baseline) | Up to 800 m/s |
| Delta-v (GEO & cislunar) | Up to 1,000 m/s |
| Payload capacity (baseline/LEO) | Up to 50 kg & 200 W |
| Payload capacity (GEO & cislunar) | Up to 200 kg & 1,000 W |
| Sensor suite | Integrated multi-spectral RPO suite powered by Mosaic autonomy software |
| Flight heritage/status (mid-2026) | Mission X (Mar 2024): first two Jackal AOVs reached orbit but did not complete RPO demonstration due to anomalies. Follow-on launched Dec 2024. Mission X-3 (JACKAL-0004) with Mosaic software declared successful; now supporting U.S. Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission with Rocket Lab. Dedicated GEO/cislunar missions scheduled for 2026. |