Chinese satellites in geosynchronous orbit are studying other spacecraft, attempting new methods to evade threats, practicing orbital warfare, and maneuvering at high speeds. The US must acquire the ability to respond with its own maneuvers, as Space Force officials and industry leaders have cautioned.
According to US Space Force Chief Master Sergeant Ronald Learch, the People’s Republic of China has launched roughly 1,000 satellites since 2010. Nevertheless, the issue is not solely the volume, he stated. Learch and his collaborator Clint Clark, associated with the space situational awareness company Exoanalytics, have also issued warnings about an increasing risk.
Clark says that China isn’t “sitting still,” and they are all “over the sky.”
Maneuvering in geosynchronous orbit is particularly unusual, as the primary objective of this orbital regime is to maintain a relatively stationary position while monitoring a specific region of the Earth.
Clark, on the other hand, observed that China is moving through the orbit to avoid detection and interference, and to approach other satellites for inspection, relocation, or potential damage.
Clark stated that China is performing a range of maneuvers in the atmosphere and carrying out various tasks with its experimental satellites. The satellites ascend and descend. They are causing anxiety, and occasionally, they engage in strange activities. Occasionally, they either climb on a satellite, lift it, or move it away.
China has previously carried out tests of geosynchronous orbital maneuvers. The SJ-17 satellite (ShiJian-21) has traveled across the geosynchronous belt, occasionally entering the Western Hemisphere, since its launch in 2019. The number and variety of Chinese satellites that are moving through space have increased over time.
Traditional geostationary satellites are also participating in maneuvering exercises for missions like missile warning and intelligence.
Clark said China will have a strategy to use against others in order to maintain the ability to provide space services to their forces.
He and Learch further stated that China’s significant changes in velocity, or “delta-v,” render these maneuvers particularly noteworthy.
Clark stated, “It is not solely that the Chinese are honing tactics; they are conducting it in a manner that is highly specific, with a delta-v that is significantly greater than Space Forces capabilities, and in a manner that challenges the US kill chain.
According to General Stephen Whiting, the commander of the United States Space Command, China uses these maneuvers to position their satellites in “new” orbits that are distinct from the conventional low, medium, geosynchronous, and highly elliptical orbits used by other nations. This is making it more challenging for the United States to track them.
Whiting stated that it is imperative that the US develop sustained space maneuvering capabilities in light of the threats it is currently encountering in these new orbits, which are challenging for it to access, and the fact that the Chinese are conducting orbital refueling experiments.
In order to conserve limited propellant supplies, satellites have historically restricted their maneuvers. Nevertheless, this dynamic may shift as the United States and China investigate new propulsion systems and methods for refueling satellites. Brigadier General Anthony J. Mastalir, the Chief of Space Force Indo-Pacific Operations, issued a warning regarding a “paradigm shift… that we must be prepared for.”
Mastalir also observed that the United States could benefit from maneuvering to hinder the ability of direct-ascent anti-satellite weapons to target its spacecraft.
Conversely, the mobility of Chinese satellites poses a challenge to the Space Force’s capacity to monitor and target them, as they increasingly engage in discussions regarding offensive space weapons.
Space Force officials acknowledged the evolving challenges of space warfare. General Mastalir explained that their previous assumptions about satellite tracking were becoming outdated, emphasizing that simply waiting to determine an orbit after a movement was no longer a viable strategy for future space conflict.
Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess highlighted the increasing complexity of potential space engagements, noting that the ability of both sides to maneuver would likely escalate the probability of confrontational scenarios in space.
Schiess further commented on the widespread presence of Chinese activities in space, expressing vigilance about their operations while asserting the Space Force’s commitment to maintaining security. He specifically pointed out that China had not demonstrated responsible behavior in the space domain, which distinguished their approach from that of the United States.
It is still uncertain how the Space Force will develop this capability, despite the fact that military space leaders have been discussing dynamic space operations for years.
Options include the use of “refueling stations in orbit” to service and refuel satellites, the implementation of advanced propulsion technologies, such as nuclear power, or the increase in satellite launches to replenish capabilities and reduce the need for fuel consumption.
Whiting stated that his interest lies not in how the U.S. Space Force can maneuver but simply in gaining that capability. He emphasized his enthusiasm for the X-37B spaceplane, which in early 2024 showcased new “aerobraking” technology that enables it to maneuver without consuming an excessive amount of fuel.
According to Whiting, a highly maneuverable system like the X-37 could significantly reduce operational vulnerabilities by mitigating unexpected developments. He explained that the current limitations in reaching new orbits made the U.S. Space Force susceptible to strategic surprises. By bridging different orbital regimes, he believed the Space Force could substantially enhance its operational flexibility and preparedness.