The United States Space Force has accomplished an unprecedented feat by successfully launching a satellite into orbit with only 27 hours' notice.
On September 14th, a Firefly Alpha rocket carried the Victus Nox mission into space from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The speed of the deployment demonstrates the United States' ability to react quickly and increase its space capabilities.
Because of the lack of advance notice and live transmission, the Victus Nox, Latin for "conquer the night," managed to surprise the space exploration world.
As indicated above, the time it took to get from approval to launch was a record-breaking 27 hours, demonstrating the nimbleness and reactivity of American space efforts.
Victus Nox is scheduled to carry out "space domain awareness" missions, which will improve the Space Force's capability .
Not only was the launch remarkable for its speed, but the massive exhaust plume could be seen from more than a thousand miles away.
A lingering, faint red glow in the sky after liftoff suggested the rocket had broken through Earth's ionosphere.
Gases in the ionosphere, which extends from about 50 to 600 miles above Earth's surface, become electrically charged.
Ionospheric holes are created between 125 and 185 miles above the Earth when rocket fuel burns.