[Global Issue+] US-China Battle for Prime Satellite Orbits Intensifies

US Space Force Signs $298 Million Contract with Boeing
Few Low Earth Orbit Slots Favorable for Ground Observation...Intense Competition

[Image source=NASA website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Space Force has agreed to collaborate with Boeing to develop new satellites capable of withstanding enemy jamming as part of building the next-generation military satellite system (MILSATCOM). The U.S. Space Force is reportedly preparing countermeasures against China’s potential attacks on key satellites that make up the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) network through satellite interception or jamming. The competition to dominate prime orbital positions such as low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and polar orbit?known as the “hot spots” for satellites?is expected to intensify further between the two countries.

According to Space.com, a U.S. space news outlet, on the 3rd (local time), the U.S. Space Force signed a $298 million (approximately 348.3 billion KRW) contract with Boeing to develop new military satellites that can maintain security despite jamming and to build the next-generation military satellite system. The Space Force is concerned that since China launched its own GPS system, BeiDou, in July, China could use satellite interception weapons or satellites already in orbit to attack the U.S. GPS in times of conflict. Tensions have risen further as China announced plans to establish its own space station by 2022.

The two countries are competing to launch more satellites. The U.S. GPS system consists of 32 satellites, while China’s BeiDou system has 55 satellites, which further provokes the U.S. Since 2018, China has become the country launching the most space launch vehicles worldwide. To reduce launch costs, the U.S. government ended its contract with Russia, with whom it had cooperated in the private space sector, and partnered with SpaceX, which offers launch costs approximately 30-40% cheaper than Russia.

The reason both countries are eager to launch more satellites and closely monitor other nations’ satellite launches is due to the limited number of prime “hot spot” orbital positions left. While it may seem odd that orbital positions matter, they are extremely important for satellites, especially military satellites. Military satellites primarily detect enemy missiles and troop movements, so placing them in low Earth orbit (altitude 400 km to 2000 km) is crucial.

Satellites in low Earth orbit can orbit the Earth about 15 to 16 times a day, allowing them to capture images of the largest areas. Additionally, satellites can be placed in sun-synchronous orbits within low Earth orbit, maintaining a constant angle with the sun. This allows for enhanced ground observation and imaging efficiency using sunlight and enables solar panels to charge for the longest duration, making it a highly preferred orbital position.

However, thousands of satellites have already been launched worldwide since the Cold War, and more than 2,000 satellites densely occupy low Earth orbit, leaving limited space available. It is believed that China’s government launched a massive number of satellites with a huge budget to build the BeiDou system, taking advantage of the lull in U.S. space development following the 2003 Columbia space shuttle disaster.

Moreover, satellites placed in similar positions can themselves become sources of radio interference. The U.S. is reportedly concerned that many satellites China launched secretly could be used to jam U.S. military satellites. The space rivalry between the two countries is expected to become even more intense in the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.