Space Is Already a 'Battlefield' for the US and China [Reading Science]

Space Shuttles with Secret Missions Being Developed in Competition

The United States' secret space shuttle 'X-37B'.
[Photo by NASA]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] As human activities in space increase, international conflicts are also expanding into the space domain. In particular, the competition between the United States and China for dominance in space is intensifying. When the U.S. developed a space shuttle capable of long-term missions and secret operations in space, China responded by developing and launching its own secret space shuttle. The U.S. is closely monitoring the trajectory of this spacecraft with heightened vigilance.

According to space news outlets such as SpaceNews on the 5th (local time), China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on the 4th that a reusable test spacecraft was launched into low Earth orbit aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in the Gobi Desert. Xinhua described the spacecraft as "performing a mission in orbit for a certain period and then returning," adding that "the verification of reusable and on-orbit servicing technologies will be carried out as planned to develop technology for the peaceful use of space." This marks China’s second launch of a 'reusable' spacecraft following the one in 2020, but specific details regarding its specifications, performance, purpose, and mission remain classified.

However, U.S. officials speculate that this spacecraft is not a simple 'reusable' vehicle like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon but rather an 'operational space vehicle' developed for purposes similar to the U.S. X-37B space shuttle, which can freely maneuver within Earth’s orbit. The X-37B is an unmanned autonomous vehicle, a scaled-down and improved version of the space shuttle operated by the U.S. until the early 2000s. It is launched vertically aboard a rocket, reaches orbit, and can fly freely regardless of orbit or direction while performing various special missions. Upon return, it lands horizontally on a runway under its own power, similar to the traditional space shuttle.

Experts analyze that the X-37B space shuttle is particularly capable of surveillance of enemy satellites or hazardous objects and, at times, may even conduct offensive actions. It can deliver critical strikes to satellite navigation systems, missile early warning and military communication satellites, and spy, intelligence, and surveillance satellites that monitor enemy territory with ultra-high resolution of about 1 meter and intercept radio signals, thereby threatening national security. In fact, a report released in May by the Secure World Foundation stated that China and Russia regard the X-37B as a 'secret attack weapon.' Since its commissioning in 2010, the X-37B has completed five secret missions. It is currently still in orbit, having been launched for the sixth time on May 17, 2020, and has remained there for over 800 days.

Changzheng 2F launch vehicle of China

Chinese authorities perceive the existence of the U.S. X-37B as a serious threat and are devising countermeasures. In December last year, China launched the Shijian-21 satellite under the pretext of 'space debris' cleanup and successfully captured one of its malfunctioning GPS satellites in February, forcing it to fall into a satellite graveyard orbit. This technology can be used as a weapon to attack enemy satellites in Earth orbit at any time during emergencies.

The 'reusable spacecraft' China launched for the second time this time is also analyzed as an experimental spacecraft developed to create a space operational vehicle with capabilities similar to the X-37B. Like the X-37B, it is an unmanned autonomous vehicle capable of deploying satellites into orbit and performing other 'secret' missions. However, the first Chinese reusable spacecraft launched in September 2020 stayed in space for two days, placed small cargo into orbit, and returned, suggesting that it still likely has a significant performance gap compared to the U.S. X-37B, which has been active in orbit for over 800 days.