A top Space Force general said Tuesday that commercial systems have observed Chinese satellites rehearsing “dogfighting” maneuvers in low Earth orbit — the U.S. adversary’s latest show of tactical and technological advancement in space capabilities. “With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other…
China is making progress on potentially “game-changing” space technology, fuelling American concerns that the gap between the two sides is narrowing, according to a US Space Force official. The comments follow the launch in January of China’s Shijian-25 satellite, which tested technologies that allow refuelling in orbit and to extend the life of spacecraft, according…
Overview: The Space Force, still in its infancy at five years old, must overcome systemic issues, including inadequate resources, unclear roles, and a lack of warfighting ethos, says a new report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force lacks the resources and warrior mentality needed to compete with China…
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the defence ministry, accused the US of “continuing to expand its space military capabilities, strengthening space military alliances and provoking a space arms race”, saying its actions have “jeopardised global strategic stability”. “We urge the US to seriously examine its dangerous actions in the space domain, cease provoking space confrontations…
The GuoWang internet satellites, launched this week as the first step in China’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, featured notable differences from their US counterpart. Not only are the Chinese satellites “huge” and “heavyweight”, but they were also arranged inside the launch vehicle in a unique double-decker type of layout, according to the China Academy…
A Chinese national has been arrested for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California’s Santa Barbara County. Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport just before boarding a flight to China, according to the Justice Department. Zhou, a resident of Brentwood, has been charged with violating…
ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. Space Force is strengthening its partnership with Japan in a bid to counter China’s growing dominance in the space domain. The collaboration includes advancing shared capabilities in space object surveillance in order to track increasingly sophisticated Chinese satellites capable of dynamically altering their orbits. Speaking at the Spacepower Conference on…
Tech mogul Elon Musk’s potential weight in the second Donald Trump administration is likely to accelerate the US space programme and pose a “huge test” to China’s extraterrestrial ambitions, Chinese observers said. The SpaceX founder and CEO has been flagged to lead a new “department of government efficiency” when Trump takes office in January, but…
In 2012, China had less than 100 satellites in orbit. Last month, the country launched its 1,000th spacecraft. That milestone, according to the U.S. Space Force’s top intelligence officer, demonstrates the evolution and growth China’s space enterprise has undergone in the last decade. But for the Defense Department, the concern is as much about the…