Space manipulations by China stir alarm within Space Force, prompting calls for improved countermeasures
ORLANDO, Fla. – It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's that darn Chinese satellite zig-zagging around like a pro wrestler in Space Force's backyard. And boy, do Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Lerch and other space bigwigs have a bone to pick about it!
Over the past decade, China has launched a staggering 1,000 satellites into the heavens, but quantity isn't the only troubling aspect. Case in point: the weird and questionable "shenanigans in GEO" (that's Geosynchronous Earth Orbit for those in the dark). Lerch isn't mincing words, claiming, "We gotta get our maneuver on, or else China's gonna leave us twistin' in the wind up there."
Enter Clint Clark, head honcho at the space domain awareness firm Exoanalytics, who jumps in with a nod and a wink, warning of an escalating risk. "China doesn't sit still," Clark observes. "They're all over the sky!"
Geosynchronous orbit is supposed to be a quiet, sleepy neighborhood, keeping watch over our sprawling planet from a distance. But not for China. They've got their Dynamo Darling streak on, slipping in and out of sight, dodging disruptions, and lurking so near to other satellites that they could whisper sweet nothings in their ears.
"They practice weird stuff all over the sky," Clark explains. "Sometimes, they get up close and personal with a satellite, just to size it up or push it around. They spice things up with some crazy maneuvers, too. Sometimes, they even steal it and take it for a joyride."
China's tied on its red satin tap shoes and jitterbugged its way around GEO for a while now. Ever since its debut in 2019, the SJ-17 satellite's been dazzling 'em with those seamless moves. At times, it's even crossed lines into the Western Hemisphere, stirring up quite the commotion. It's not just the SJ-17 either. The number and variety of Chinese satellites twisting and turning on a dime is on the rise.
Even traditional GEO satellites, the ones working 9 to 5 studying missile warning and secret intel, have joined the dance. "When you come for 'em," Clark says, "they've got a whole routine to contend with, making sure they can still hook you with their solar flares."
China's been known to wow spectators with some incredibly large leaps in speed, known as "delta-v." Clark notes, "It ain't just that they show off their fancy footwork. They kick it up a notch, bangin' and bouncin' all over the place in ways that leave us in the dust."
According to Gen. Stephen Whiting, head honcho of Space Command, China's been skipping all over those orbiting playgrounds, way up high where even Zeus himself would need binoculars to keep an eye on. Beijing's been using these maneuvers to make it harder for the U.S. to find 'em, just like a cat that's mastered the art of hiding in plain sight.
"It's vital," Whiting states, "that given the threats we see in these hard-to-reach orbits, we need some kind of sustained space maneuver."
Traditionally, satellites hold back on their jive, saving their fuel for when they really need it. But it seems like both China and the U.S. are eying ways to keep the party going with new propulsion systems and maybe even some in-space refueling stations.
Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir, head of Space Forces Indo-Pacific, is sounding the alarm bell, warning of a potential paradigm shift that might leave the U.S. spinning like a top.
The U.S. Space Force ain't just worried about getting the funk, though. Mastalir notes that maneuverability could make satellites harder targets for direct-ascent antisatellite weapons. On the flip side, as Space Force leaders start talking more and more about their newest shiny toys (offensive space weapons), it's getting tougher and tougher for them to keep tabs on China's roving spacecraft.
"We've been used to Mannheim steamrollers, always knowing when a satellite was about to come our way," Mastalir says. "But that's changin' fast. We're gonna need some smooth Fred Astaire moves to keep up with these jitterbuggin' satellites."
General Lt. Douglas A. Schiess, head of Space Forces-Space, agrees, "China's got moves like Jagger, and we're echoin' their every step. It's crucial to keep close tabs on 'em. But today, it's a challenge. Tomorrow, it could mean World War IV redux in space."
Military space leaders have been on about dynamic space operations for eons now, but the dust hasn't settled yet on how the Space Force will swing into action. Some ideas are floating around, like "gas stations in orbit" to refuel satellites, advanced propulsion technology including nuclear power, and simply doing more launches to replace old ones and conserve the ol' fuel.
Whiting says he cares less about how they can dance like a dream than getting the moves they need. And he's got his eyes on the Space Force's X-37B spaceplane, which just showed the world a fancy new trick called "aerobraking" – bobbing and weaving through space with minimal energy burn.
"If we had a limber, dancey system like the X-37," Whiting purrs, "we could limit operational surprise. Right now, it's tough to get to those tricky orbits. But if we had the stats to move seamlessly between 'em, we'd be more agile and less likely to get caught off-guard."
Space
Insights:
- China's satellites maneuvering in GEO represent a significant threat to U.S. space security. The increased maneuverability could indicate advanced technical capabilities and the potential for military applications like satellite capture or disruption.
- U.S. surveillance capabilities are being challenged by Chinese satellites' ability to maneuver closely around other satellites. This raises concerns over potential conflicts and increased tensions in space security.
- To address these concerns, the U.S. should focus on enhancing surveillance capabilities, developing defensive technologies, and engaging in diplomatic efforts to stabilize the space environment.
- China's satellite maneuvers in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) pose a serious threat to the United States' space security, as their advanced technical capabilities could be indicative of military applications such as satellite capture or disruption.
- The increased maneuverability of Chinese satellites is challenging U.S. surveillance capabilities, raising concerns over potential conflicts and increased tensions in space security.
- To counter these threats, the U.S. Space Force needs to focus on developing advanced technology, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and practicing diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability in space.
- The X-37B spaceplane, with its ability to perform aerobraking, could be a potential solution for enhancing space mobility and preventing operational surprise, ensuring a more agile and responsive space force.
- The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Space Force should invest in research and development for advanced propulsion technology, including nuclear power, and the establishment of in-orbit refueling stations to sustain and enhance space maneuverability.
- The future of space warfare and defense is heavily reliant on dynamic space operations, and the Space Force must devise strategies to maintain its advantage in the rapidly evolving space environment, facing off against the formidable moves of China's space force.
