The security landscape in Earth's orbit is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by geopolitical competition and rapid technological advancement. Steve Kitay, a former top Pentagon space policy official now at the startup True Anomaly, explains that space has evolved into a fully-fledged warfighting domain, requiring new strategies and technologies to protect U.S. interests.
In response, a new generation of defense-focused space companies is emerging. These firms are developing specialized technologies, from autonomous spacecraft to advanced software, aimed at providing the U.S. military with the tools needed to monitor orbital activities and deter potential adversaries in real-time.
Key Takeaways
- Space is now considered a distinct warfighting domain, not just an environment that supports terrestrial military operations.
- Private companies like True Anomaly are developing specialized military technologies for space, including spacecraft for on-orbit inspection.
- The primary drivers for this shift are the accelerated space activities of nations like China and the need to overcome slow government acquisition processes.
- The strategy focuses on "deterrence through strength," aiming to prevent conflict by demonstrating the capability to defend U.S. space assets.
- Autonomy and speed are critical, with new systems designed to respond to threats in minutes or hours, rather than days.
The New Reality of a Contested Orbit
For decades, space was primarily seen as a supporting environment for military operations on Earth, providing services like communication, navigation, and reconnaissance. According to Steve Kitay, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, this perception has fundamentally changed.
"One of the common misconceptions is when people say, ‘Space is getting militarized now.’ Space has been militarized since the very beginning," Kitay stated, referencing the launch of Sputnik by the Soviets in 1957 and the U.S. Army's response with Explorer 1 in 1958.
The recent shift, he argues, is the recognition of space as a warfighting domain in its own right. This change is largely a reaction to the actions of other nations.
What is a Warfighting Domain?
In military terminology, a warfighting domain is a physical or virtual space where military operations are conducted. The traditional domains are land, sea, and air. In recent decades, space and cyberspace have been officially recognized as the fourth and fifth domains, signifying that conflict can originate and occur entirely within them.
Adversary Capabilities Drive Change
The development of anti-satellite weapons and other counter-space capabilities by China and Russia has forced the United States to re-evaluate its posture in orbit. Kitay explained that these nations recognized the U.S. military's reliance on space assets and began developing systems to disrupt or destroy them in a potential conflict.
"China and Russia recognized how important space is and started developing weapon systems, so we’ve had to ensure we can protect and defend our interests and, if necessary, deny adversaries the use of space when hostile to our interests," Kitay said.
This has created an urgent need for enhanced space situational awareness — the ability to know precisely what is happening in orbit at any given moment.
True Anomaly and the Rise of Space Defense Startups
To meet these new defense needs, a new type of company is entering the space industry. Unlike commercial satellite operators, firms like True Anomaly are focused exclusively on building technologies for what they term "space superiority." Kitay, now Senior Vice President for Space Defense at the company, describes its mission as building tools to protect U.S. and allied interests.
"The first step in protecting and defending interests in space is understanding what’s happening there and the threats we face," he noted. This requires moving beyond traditional ground-based sensors like telescopes and radars.
The Jackal Spacecraft
True Anomaly's flagship product is the Jackal spacecraft. This is a satellite system specifically designed for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). Its purpose is to safely approach other objects in orbit to inspect and characterize them.
- Mission: On-orbit surveillance and inspection.
- Capability: Safely maneuver near other satellites.
- Objective: To understand the function and intent of other spacecraft, particularly those exhibiting unusual behavior.
This capability provides a level of detail that ground-based systems cannot achieve, helping to distinguish between debris, a malfunctioning satellite, or a potential threat.
A Crowded Orbit: According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the number of active satellites in orbit is projected to grow to approximately 58,000 by 2030, dramatically increasing the complexity of monitoring space traffic.
The Need for Speed and Autonomy
In the fast-paced environment of orbital operations, reaction time is critical. A threat could materialize and cause damage in a matter of minutes. The traditional process of detecting an anomaly, analyzing data, and tasking a response over days or weeks is no longer viable.
"We need to respond on operationally relevant timelines — hours or minutes, not days or weeks," Kitay emphasized. This is where technology, particularly software and artificial intelligence, plays a vital role.
True Anomaly is developing a software platform called Mosaic, which serves as the command and control system for its Jackal spacecraft. Crucially, Mosaic incorporates battle management functions and a high degree of autonomy to accelerate the decision-making process. This allows for rapid planning and execution of missions, reducing human-in-the-loop latency.
A New Model for Public-Private Partnership
The rise of companies like True Anomaly highlights a major shift in how the U.S. Department of Defense acquires new technology. The traditional government-led acquisition system is often too slow to keep pace with commercial innovation and evolving threats.
The Threat Pacing Acquisition
Kitay identified two primary drivers accelerating this new defense space sector: the threat itself and the speed of acquisition.
"China’s been investing rapidly in defense capabilities and has launched about a thousand satellites in the past ten years," he stated. "They’re accelerating to contest us."
To counter this, the government is increasingly turning to the private sector. Private investment and venture capital can fund the rapid development of new systems, which the government can then procure once they are proven. This model allows the military to access cutting-edge technology much faster than through traditional development programs.
"You don’t send soldiers into battle with a Toyota Camry; you give them tanks. Similarly, the Air Force needs fighter aircraft, and now we’re building the equivalent for space," Kitay analogized.
Deterrence in the 21st Century
The ultimate goal of developing these new defensive capabilities is not to provoke conflict, but to prevent it. The strategy is based on the principle of deterrence through strength. By demonstrating a robust ability to monitor space and defend its assets, the U.S. aims to convince potential adversaries that any hostile act would be unsuccessful or met with a decisive response.
When asked about the risk of fueling an arms race, Kitay's response was direct. "The arms race is already happening. China and Russia are developing advanced missile and space weapon systems. Pretending otherwise won’t make space safer."
Looking ahead, the orbital environment is expected to become even more complex. It will feature a mix of commercial, civil, and military activities, with large satellite constellations and highly autonomous systems becoming commonplace. Maintaining stability in this contested domain, Kitay argues, requires a clear-eyed view of the threats and a commitment to maintaining a technological edge.
His primary concern is whether the urgency of the situation is fully understood outside of defense circles. He described the current period as a new "Sputnik moment," where a strategic challenge demands a national response grounded in innovation and swift action.