The US is entering a new era of space activities and the threats facing the nation are becoming more critical, according to General Chance Saltzman, head of US Space Operations. Speaking at a space symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., this week, Saltzman warned that the nation’s capabilities in orbit face significant challenges from strategic rivals. This threat is growing exponentially and affects the number of satellite payloads, flights, and trajectories, all of which have increased at a rapid rate.
Saltzman’s message comes at a time when space is becoming increasingly commercialized and geopolitical threats are moving beyond Earth’s borders and the rules of engagement remain uncertain. Military experts believe that space will be at the forefront of all future conflicts and that this battlefield can spill over into the private sector, affecting civilians in real-time.
Space-based tactics used by adversaries like Russia and China run the gamut, from jamming GPS satellites to lasers that jam orbiting cameras to anti-satellite missiles, such as the one Russia tested in late 2021, Saltzman said. note that satellites are being developed that can capture, engage, and de-orbit other satellites.
To respond more quickly to threats and assets in this space, Saltzman wants to improve service capabilities. The goal is to make satellites more durable and join a growing group of commercial space players to provide more flight services.
Saltzman’s remarks marked the rapid creation of the Space Force in 2019 as the first new branch of the US armed services in seven decades. Earth’s space capabilities are threatened, and the Space Force must respond to this challenge to ensure that the United States remains the dominant power in space.
In conclusion, the United States is entering a new era of space activities, and the threats facing the nation are growing exponentially. This threat affects the number of shipments, flights and objects tracked via satellite, further complicating the situation. Saltzman’s speech emphasized the importance of space power in maintaining the nation’s capabilities in orbit, making satellite constellations more stable, and getting more aviation services against evolving threats.
