The U.S. Develops Space Surveillance Satellites... Preparing for Space Warfare [Tech Talk]

Satellites Shift Their Gaze from Earth's Surface to Outer Space
Alarm Over 'Dogfight' Among Chinese Satellites
Securing Space Visibility Becomes Urgent for U.S. Amid Rivalry with China
Utilization as Infrastructure to Prevent Space Debris Collisions

Since the advent of satellites orbiting low Earth orbit, services that capture images of the Earth's surface from space and provide various types of information have thrived across both civilian and military sectors. Recently, however, the U.S. government-particularly the U.S. Space Force-has shifted its focus toward satellites that photograph 'outer space' rather than the Earth itself. This is driven by fears that the Chinese military might destroy U.S.-owned satellites.

Satellites Turning Their Cameras to Outer Space, Not the Earth's Surface

Starting in the second half of this year, the U.S. Department of Defense is launching the 'Victus Nox' project, which aims to deploy small reconnaissance satellites into low Earth orbit as quickly as possible using rockets. 'Victus Nox,' which means 'to conquer the night' in Latin, does not carry satellites designed to capture images of the Earth's surface. Instead, these are NEI (Non-Earth Imagery) satellites, equipped with cameras or radar systems pointed toward space. In other words, they are designed specifically for monitoring activities in outer space.

An artist's rendering of the space-based surveillance system by American defense contractor Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman website

Private companies have also entered the NEI service market. Satellite imaging company Maxar Technologies has established a constellation of satellites capable of capturing space images from altitudes between 200 and 1,000 kilometers. Maxar claims its satellites can identify objects in space as small as 6 inches (15 cm) in size. Another private company, HEO, has made NEI services its core business and is collaborating with defense companies such as the UK-based BAE Systems.

Alarm Over 'Dogfight' Among Chinese Satellites

A space photo taken by the Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) satellite service company 'HEO'. HEO

The reason governments and companies are investing in photographing outer space rather than the Earth is to enhance their Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities. This enables them to track artificial structures such as space stations and satellites, as well as threats like space debris and missiles.

SDA is currently considered the most urgent task for the U.S. Space Force. The Space Force became alarmed after detecting activities in March that were believed to be a 'space battle' involving Chinese satellites. At the time, General Michael Guetlein of the Space Force stated at a press conference that "five Chinese satellites appeared to be chasing each other in space," likening the situation to a dogfight, a term used to describe aerial combat where fighter jets pursue one another.

The Chinese authorities did not explain the reason for these satellite maneuvers. However, international military media outlets such as Breaking Defense have suggested that these activities may have been practice for interference or destruction operations targeting other countries' satellites. According to these reports, space battles using satellites are already possible with current technology. Satellites can be maneuvered to collide with opposing satellites, or robotic arms can be used to physically destroy them. Even simply blocking a satellite's camera or radar can render most satellites useless.

The robotic arm of the International Space Station (ISS). It was developed to assist astronauts, but if misused, it can be used as a weapon to destroy other countries' satellites or space structures. NASA

For the United States, which is competing with China for technological, economic, and military supremacy, securing visibility in outer space has become urgent. Ground-based radar systems cannot monitor space objects around the clock. However, if a dedicated constellation of satellites is deployed to directly monitor outer space, the U.S. would be able to respond quickly to attacks from adversaries in the future.

Utilization as Space Traffic Management Infrastructure

Currently, most demand for NEI satellites comes from the military sector, but commercial services are expected to become more active in the future. As the number of small satellite constellations in Earth's orbit increases and space debris accumulates, securing visibility will become essential for the safe operation of satellites.

In this regard, Maxar Technologies stated, "NEI can support missions and training for space military operations, but in the future, service areas may also include solutions for space traffic management and satellite operations. For example, NEI can help assess the risk of collisions between satellites on the same orbit and develop safe maneuvering plans to prevent such collisions. It will also be useful for identifying malfunctioning satellites and determining the remaining lifespan and operational status of satellites."