The United States Space Force has launched its secretive X-37B spaceplane on its eighth mission, deploying advanced technologies for testing in orbit. The launch has drawn sharp criticism from Chinese military analysts, who describe the reusable vehicle as a potential "space killer" and a key element in an American strategy to dominate the space domain.
This mission unfolds against a backdrop of rapidly increasing global military spending on space, with nations shifting their focus from cooperation to competition in what is now widely considered a war-fighting domain.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Space Force's X-37B began its eighth mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to test experimental technologies.
- Chinese military researchers have labeled the X-37B a potential "space killer" intended to help the U.S. achieve space supremacy.
- China is simultaneously developing its own reusable spaceplane, the Shenlong, which has completed three orbital tests.
- Global spending on space defense reached $73.1 billion last year, with the U.S. accounting for the vast majority of that expenditure.
U.S. X-37B Embarks on New Classified Mission
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) confirmed the successful launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle on its eighth mission, designated USSF-52. Lifted into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the uncrewed spacecraft is set to conduct a series of experiments aimed at advancing military space capabilities.
According to official statements, the mission will focus on a wide range of test objectives. Key among these are demonstrations of next-generation technologies, including advanced laser communications systems and a high-performance quantum inertial sensor. This sensor is reportedly the most capable of its kind ever tested in space and could pave the way for navigation systems that operate independently of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit are key partners in the mission's objectives. The reusable X-37B, built by Boeing, has a long history of extended orbital flights. Across its seven previous missions, the vehicle has spent thousands of days in space and traveled over 1.3 billion miles, demonstrating its reliability and endurance.
What is the X-37B?
The X-37B is an uncrewed, reusable robotic spacecraft operated by the U.S. Space Force. Resembling a miniature Space Shuttle, it is designed to deploy into low Earth orbit for extended periods to test new technologies and conduct experiments. Its specific capabilities and most of its payloads remain classified, leading to international speculation about its military purpose.
China Expresses Concerns Over Space Weaponization
The latest X-37B mission has been met with suspicion from China. In an analysis published in the South China Morning Post, Chinese researchers voiced concerns that the United States is using the platform to pursue military dominance in space.
Wang Tiantian and Feng Songjiang, researchers at China’s Space Engineering University’s Space Security Research Centre, stated that the program highlights America's ambitions. They wrote, "The X-37B’s frequent launches and mission iterations highlight the US military’s ambition to accelerate the development of space weapons and pursue space supremacy."
"The X-37B’s dynamic response capabilities, combined with its onboard weapons, will make it a key component of the US military’s ‘Prompt Global Strike’ system in the future," the researchers added.
This perspective frames the X-37B not as a research platform but as an operational weapon system. Chinese analysts suggest its maneuverability and payload capacity could allow it to interfere with or disable other nations' satellites, effectively making it a "space killer."
The Shenlong Project China's Reusable Spacecraft
While voicing concerns about American activities, China is actively developing its own comparable technology. The Chinese reusable spaceplane, known as Shenlong or "Divine Dragon," has already completed three orbital test flights.
Details about the Shenlong are scarce, but its third and most recent mission was its longest, lasting 268 days in orbit. During this flight, observers reported that the craft may have transmitted signals while passing over North America, signaling Beijing's growing confidence in its own reusable space technology.
A New Space Race
The development of reusable spaceplanes by both the U.S. and China is a clear indicator of a new era of strategic competition. These vehicles offer a way to deploy, retrieve, and potentially service or disable assets in orbit, representing a significant leap in military space capability.
China's progress with the Shenlong project demonstrates its commitment to establishing a significant military presence in space. This parallels its broader efforts to develop anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, which are designed to deny adversaries the use of their space-based assets during a conflict.
Global Military Spending on Space Soars
The activities of the U.S. and China are part of a larger global trend. The era of space as a domain reserved for peaceful cooperation appears to be ending, replaced by an intense military competition. This shift was a central theme at the recent Space Defence and Security Summit in Paris.
International leaders at the summit declared that space has officially become a "war-fighting domain." According to Hermann Ludwig Moeller, director of the European Space Policy Institute, "What you see is that it is now the military domain that is leading. This is really clear compared to last year; the language and what is behind the language has shifted."
This sentiment is backed by significant financial investment.
- Global expenditures on space defense reached $73.1 billion last year.
- For the past two years, governments worldwide have spent more of their space budgets on defense than on civil programs.
- The United States leads with $53.1 billion in spending, followed by China at $9.3 billion, Russia at $2.3 billion, and France at $2.1 billion.
Brig. Gen. Jürgen Schrödl of the German Ministry of Defence offered a stark assessment at the summit. "The rule-based international order in space is nearly over," he stated. "We have to accept that space is a tested domain, is a war-fighting domain, is becoming a war-fighting domain." This new reality suggests that orbital assets are increasingly viewed as both strategic targets and military tools in future conflicts.