[Reading Science] US Innovates Space Industry Citing China's Challenge as 'Excuse'

US Government Officials Revealed at Seminar on the 11th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The United States is using China’s challenge as an 'excuse' to make massive investments in the private space industry, aiming to use it as a stepping stone for a new leap forward.

On the 12th (local time), the U.S. space specialized media SpaceNews reported this by quoting remarks made by Colonel Eric Felt of the U.S. Space Force at an online space industry seminar hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) on the 11th.

At the seminar, Colonel Felt referred to last year’s announcement by Frank Kendall, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, who decided to significantly increase the budget for space development to respond to China’s 'space rise' and to develop high-priority technologies. Felt said, "In my 25 years of service, I have never seen the Department of Defense invest so much money so quickly in the priority technologies planned by the Air Force," adding, "This investment plan will provide unprecedented opportunities for commercial innovation in the (U.S.) space industry."

He also conveyed that his superior, Frank Calvelli, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Integration, emphasizes that the Space Force should not only invest more money in technology development but also devise smarter development strategies. In other words, the U.S. Air Force’s policy regarding space technology development is to avoid costly government R&D programs and instead make extensive use of commercially adoptable private technologies. Colonel Felt stated, "The fact that all commercial innovations related to space technology can be used to maintain our technological superiority and deter conflicts with competitors is very interesting to space authorities."

[Reading Science] US Innovates Space Industry Citing China's Challenge as 'Excuse'

U.S. Space Force. Photo by U.S. Space Force website

Regarding the space systems that the Space Force plans to procure, Colonel Felt explained, "We are reviewing solutions that actually provide the capabilities needed on the battlefield and help solve problems." He also emphasized that U.S. defense spending in the space sector will have a significant impact on the U.S. private space industry. Felt said, "The space (system) acquisitions we are undertaking can either greatly help or severely harm the foundation of the space industry," adding, "The health of the space sector is crucial to national security and the economy."

Steve Butow, Director of Space Assets at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) under the U.S. Department of Defense, made similar remarks at the seminar. He explained, "The Department of Defense must wisely purchase commercial products and services, and this means making contracts that benefit both the government and companies," adding, "What we truly want is to build a strong private space industry foundation that supports not only the military sector but also economic security and NASA’s exploration missions."

There was also an opinion that quantitative competition with China in space development should be avoided. Richard Klodnicki, CEO and Chairman of the private consulting firm Arete INC, said, "We should not focus on comparing what China wants to do with what we want to do, and the number of space launches is not always a reliable measure," emphasizing, "True success is for the U.S. and its allies to achieve what they want and for China to inevitably follow, regardless of what China is doing."