"This Way, Losing to Jung"… US Space Force's 'Shocking' Report [Reading Science]

Recent Annual National Space Strategy Report Released
"China Steadily Pursues Strategy to Surpass US in Space by 2045"
"Strengthen Public-Private Cooperation, Increase Investment, or Risk Being Surpassed"

Expected perspective view of the space station that China plans to complete in 2022. Photo by VCG

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "We could lose to China." As China has begun to fully pursue its 'space rise' with the completion of its independent space station next year, concerns have emerged within the U.S. government that China might surpass the U.S. There are calls to establish a new national space development strategy that includes strengthening public-private cooperation.

According to space news outlet SpaceNews on the 24th (local time), recently, the U.S. Space Force under the Department of Defense, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Department of the Air Force, and the Air Force Research Laboratory released an annual national space strategy report containing these concerns.

The report was compiled into a 110-page document after about 250 participants took part in two workshops starting earlier this year. The main framework is that for the U.S. to remain a superpower in space as it is now, it must develop a strategy that embraces the private sector as a key player.

In particular, the report reflects U.S. concerns about China's space rise. It states, "China has set a goal to secure overwhelming power in space by 2045 and is steadily pursuing it," and "At a time when agile space technology development and utilization are needed in the new space era, the U.S. is facing a crisis due to outdated policies and procurement systems."

Michael Brown, Director of the DIU, attended a discussion hosted by the think tank Atlantic Council on the 24th and said, "If the U.S. does not increase investment in space now, it will lose its space superiority to China," adding, "To maintain the current lead over China, a national vision for investment and innovation in space development is necessary." For example, government spending should increase to build space infrastructure that can stimulate private investment in areas such as space mineral extraction and processing, and space solar power generation. He added, "To win the space development competition with China, it is necessary to strengthen public-private cooperation that encourages commercial technologies rather than customized systems," and "To pioneer the future of space development, private companies must be provided with government contract revenues."

Steven Burkey Butow, Director of Space Assets at DIU, also agreed, citing the recent 10-year contracts the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) signed with three private satellite companies as an example. He pointed out, "This NRO contract is very significant. Currently, these three satellite companies can plan for the future while cooperating with the government."

U.S. Air Force Colonel Eric Felt also noted, "To achieve the goals in the report, cooperation and coordination with various federal agencies are necessary," and pointed out, "The strategic plans and long-term visions presented in the report still have a long way to go and have not made sufficient progress."