Latest news with #X-37B
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Golden Dome risks nuclear war in space, warns North Korea
Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defence plan risks starting a nuclear war in space, North Korea has warned. Announced last week, the $175 billion (£147 billion) proposal aims to create a network of satellites by 2029 that will detect, track and shoot down any missiles fired at the US. However, Pyongyang attacked the US president's futuristic project in a long memorandum on Tuesday morning, in which it said the scheme could turn outer space into a 'potential nuclear war field'. Golden Dome is a 'very dangerous initiative aimed at threatening the strategic security of the nuclear weapons states', the North Korean foreign ministry said. It went on to accuse the US of being 'hell-bent on the moves to militarise outer space' and said the project was the latest evidence of the Washington's 'self-righteousness, arrogance, high-handed and arbitrary practice'. The memo also attacked America's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 7, a robotic space plane manufactured by Boeing and operated in part by the United States Space Force. The craft was another example of Washington's moves 'moves to militarise space' and compared the threat of the X-37B to that of nuclear weapons, it said. The Golden Dome project has been criticised as destabilising and as a potential trigger for an arms race, as other powers could desire their own extensive space weapons system or try to build more missiles to overcome the US's space shield. Mr Trump has not responded to Pyongyang's concerns, but experts say the strong reaction likely means it sees the project as a serious threat. Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said that if the US was successfully able to complete this system, North Korea would then 'be forced to develop alternative means to counter or penetrate it'. The robust response came after Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, last week suffered a rare moment of public embarrassment when a brand new warship sank in front of what was likely a large crowd during a botched launch. Kim said that the accident 'brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse' and at least four officials have since been arrested in relation to the event. A week earlier, North Korea was stressing its martial readiness, with Kim asserting that the most crucial task for his country's armed forces was to make 'full preparations for war'. South Korea has increased its number of joint military exercises with Washington in recent years and has publicised the presence of US assets, such as a nuclear-powered submarine, in an effort to deter aggression from Pyongyang.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing looks to existing production lines for Golden Dome pitch
The head of Boeing's space mission systems business envisions at least two of the company's product lines as a clear fit for the Pentagon's Golden Dome homeland missile defense capability — the X-37B spaceplane and a fleet of missile-tracking satellites the firm is developing for the Space Development Agency's 'Foo Fighter' program. The Pentagon is still crafting its architecture recommendations for the project, which will include a mix of advanced sensors and potentially a fleet of in-space interceptors designed to defeat enemy missiles. Officials have said this initial analysis phase involves determining which existing capabilities to scale and what new technologies it will need to develop. Boeing's Michelle Parker told Defense News the company's conversations with the Pentagon about Golden Dome have focused on which production lines the company can ramp up and where it can invest over time to bring new technology to existing systems. 'In addition to the technology aspects of Golden Dome, it's the ability to get something quickly at scale,' she told Defense News in an interview at Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. 'So, what do you have now that can get up there and start to be part of that architecture, and then how do you evolve it?' Boeing has been evolving its X-37B, an orbital test vehicle, on a regular basis since its first mission in 2010. While not an operational spacecraft, the vehicle is used to fly experiments and test maneuvers and operational concepts in orbit, most of them veiled in secrecy. The reusable spacecraft returned from its seventh mission in March, where it demonstrated a novel aerobraking maneuver, which allows it to change orbits using minimal fuel. Space Force officials said the learnings from this mission will inform future space operations. Boeing has built two X-37Bs, to date, and Parker said the company has the capacity to produce more if called upon. 'We would love to do that, and we believe we can,' she said. Parker declined to discuss specifics about Boeing's proposal for how existing capabilities might fit into the Golden Dome architecture. It's possible the X-37B could be used to support what will likely be a rigorous test program required to validate space-based interceptor technology and the sensor network. Boeing also has expertise supporting missile warning and defense programs. Its small satellite subsidiary, Millennium Space Systems, is developing satellites for the Space Force's Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking layer in medium Earth orbit. The company is also providing satellites for the Space Development Agency's Foo Fighter program. Millennium is under contract to build eight Foo Fighter satellites — and the associated ground systems — that can detect and track hypersonic missile threats. The spacecraft will carry sensors from L3Harris. Millennium recently passed a key design review for the program, keeping it on track to deliver the first eight satellites by 2026. To help meet Foo Fighter production demands, Parker said Boeing is expanding Millennium's footprint within the larger company's satellite factory, essentially doubling its capacity. If DOD calls on the firm to produce more of these spacecraft, she said, Boeing is prepared to do that and will look at ways to use more automated manufacturing tools to streamline and make more space where needed. 'We're trying to take an approach that we've got our stable production lines operating. If the demand signal says expand, we can do that within the space we have,' she said.
Asia Times
19-03-2025
- Science
- Asia Times
US arming up to zap China, Russia in space
The race for space dominance is intensifying as the US Space Force embraces directed-energy weapons, jammers and kinetic systems to counter China and Russia's escalating orbital warfare capabilities. The space war plan, designed to achieve 'space superiority', was outlined by General Chance Saltzman at the recent Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, Task & Purpose reported. While traditional military branches have historically explored space weaponry, the US Space Force's contemporary approach includes offensive and defensive tools for terrestrial and orbital operations. This approach marks a shift from the branch's initial focus on satellite network development for communication and missile detection. Directed energy weapons like lasers and jammers are favored for neutralizing enemy satellites without generating harmful debris in space. Saltzman also revealed plans for a foundational doctrine, 'Space Force Doctrine Document One,' which will define the agency's vision for space operations. Initiatives such as the secretive X-37B space plane underscore the broader strategic vision for orbital control. The US Space Force's intent to diversify its arsenal reflects its evolving role in maintaining strategic dominance in space, leveraging advanced technologies to counteract adversarial capabilities while minimizing collateral risks. Illustrating the growing capabilities of near-peer adversarial threats, CNN reported this month that China and Russia are aggressively testing offensive space capabilities, highlighting their increasing space militarization. According to the report, Russia has recently conducted satellite training missions, practicing 'attack and defend tactics' in the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), while China demonstrated advanced co-orbital satellite maneuvers in December 2024. The CNN report says both nations are developing technologies such as anti-satellite missiles and directed-energy weapons to disrupt or destroy enemy satellites. Directed energy weapons encompass lasers and microwaves. Lasers could overheat or melt sensitive components or blind sensors on satellites. Microwaves can induce electric currents that could 'fry' satellite electronics, destroying the satellite without breaking it apart. While not considered a directed energy weapon, jamming works by flooding satellites with false signals or noise, drowning out their control signals and temporarily making them inoperable. An August 2021 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report describes space as the 'ultimate high ground,' critical to communications, intelligence and missile warning surveillance operations. The report notes that near-peer adversaries like China and Russia have studied warfighting concepts and focused on space systems as a particular US vulnerability. Such developments give rise to a new form of space warfare. In a February 2025 Modern Warfare Institute (MWI) article, Alan Dugger explains the concept of orbital warfare. Unlike terrestrial battles, Dugger says orbital warfare is defined by subtle maneuvers, strategic positioning and kinetic and non-kinetic methods to disrupt or disable adversary assets. He mentions that the concept revolves around controlling orbital slots and leveraging technologies like cyberattacks, electronic jamming and directed energy to achieve dominance without creating debris. Further, Jessica Getrost writes in a June 2024 podcast for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies that orbital warfare involves more than two vehicles maneuvering around each other. Getrost says orbital warfare involves executing offensive and defensive fires to preserve freedom of action in space. In the same podcast, Charles Galbreath emphasizes the foundational role of space domain awareness (SDA) in orbital warfare, emphasizing reaction time to prepare for attacks against space-based assets to ensure continuous space-based support for warfighters. Further on orbital warfare, US Space Doctrine Publication 3-0 defines space superiority as 'a relative degree of control in space of one force over another that would permit the conduct of its operations without prohibitive interference from the adversary while simultaneously denying their opponent freedom of action in the domain at a given time.' However, these conceptual developments may have to be implemented amid an architectural shift in space-based military capabilities, which are now moving from a few expensive satellites to proliferated satellite constellations. Illustrating that shift, Breaking Defense reported this month that the US Space Force is reevaluating its reliance on costly, singular satellite systems in favor of a proliferated satellite architecture, as confirmed by Major General Stephen Purdy. Breaking Defense says this shift aims to enhance resilience and cost-efficiency by leveraging commercial alternatives for space situational awareness and other critical capabilities. The report mentions that the US Space Systems Command is analyzing legacy programs, including Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability, to identify opportunities for commercial integration. It points out this approach may require scaling back stringent requirements to achieve faster deployment and reduced expenses. Douglas Youvan highlights the advantages of satellite constellations, mentioning that they offer redundancy, resilience and versatility, making them formidable assets in potential conflict scenarios. Youvan says they can provide continuous coverage, adapt to evolving mission needs and mitigate the risk of losing a single satellite. However, Youvan points out that their very nature – being small, numerous and relatively cheap – means they could be used in more aggressive postures, adding to space congestion and amplifying the risk of unintentional escalations. Aside from the tactical and operational advantages afforded by proliferated microsatellite constellations, Dugan says hiding military goals within civilian activities introduces strategic uncertainty, enabling state actors to operate covertly on the global stage without detection or opposition. This intermingling of civilian and military capabilities and operations in space enables the conduct of gray zone operations in the domain. In a July 2024 article for the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Mike Carey and Charlie McGillis mention that intermingling civilian and military activities in space allows states to exert influence below the threshold of armed conflict. Carey and McGillis point out that the US and its adversaries, including China and Russia, leverage commercial space assets for strategic objectives, complicating attribution and response. They say non-kinetic tactics—such as jamming, spoofing and cyberattacks—degrade satellite capabilities while maintaining plausible deniability. They also mention that space technology's dual-use nature blurs the lines between civilian and military operations, making deterrence challenging. As the militarization of space accelerates, the fusion of advanced technology, strategic deception and great-power competition is transforming Earth's orbit into the next battlefield.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious Spacecraft Lands at Space Force Base
The Space Force's top-secret X-37B spaceplane has landed after spending well over a year orbiting the Earth. The enigmatic space plane launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in December 2023. What exactly it did while circling the planet without a crew on board for the next 434 days, its seventh flight to date, remains mostly a mystery. In a vaguely-worded statement, the Space Force revealed that "Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B's robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments." Last month, the Space Force published a photo showing the side of the spacecraft with a distant Earth looming in the background, demonstrating its highly elliptical orbit. In October, the military branch announced X-37B would be performing a series of "aerobraking" maneuvers to slow itself down while clipping through the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Apart from saving fuel, the Space Force said it also managed to use the technique to descend to a low-Earth orbit. Put simply, the space plane appears to have successfully "belly flopped" through the upper reaches of the atmosphere to slow itself down. "The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores the US Space Force's commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner," said chief of space operations Chance Saltzman in a statement. X-37B program director Blaine Stewart called the conclusion of the plane's latest flight an "exciting new chapter in the X-37B program." "Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the US Space Force's dynamic mission capability," he added. According to the military branch, the "space domain awareness technology experiments" the plane conducted during its most recent flight were meant to address the issue of an "increasingly congested and contested environment of space." In other words, it's possible the plane was scanning the space around it for errant pieces of space junk and other objects to avoid a collision. Apart from slowing itself down using the Earth's atmosphere, the X-37B has previously tested beaming solar power from space and thermal protection systems, as reported last month. While 434 days is a considerable amount of time, the X-37B spent more than twice that during its sixth flight between May 2020 and November 2022. More on the space plane: Space Force Releases Photo of Earth Taken by Experimental Space Plane
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious U.S. spaceplane returns to Earth, and Space Force snaps photos
The secretive exploits of the X-37B spaceplane continue. After spending 434 days in space, the crewless Space Force craft returned to Earth on March 7, landing at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base in the middle of the night. The agency snapped pictures of its return, including the image of a hazmat suit-clad crew attending to the outer space craft. "The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force's dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on Mar. 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST," the U.S. Space Force posted on X. SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why. This was the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle. Technicians standing near the recently landed X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force The slightly charred X-37B spaceplane after landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: U.S. Space Force The spaceplane's most recent national security-related mission launched in December 2023, and it accomplished a new feat. The Space Force recently revealed on X that the spaceplane "executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel." "Aerobraking" involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel. When not aerobraking, it appears the spaceplane kept busy with reconnaissance-related activity. "While in orbit, Mission 7 tested space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force's knowledge of the space environment," the Space Force said in a statement. "These technologies are critical to the U.S. Space Force's ability to conduct space operations in an increasingly congested and contested environment of space, to the benefit of all users of the domain." Spaceplanes, too, must contend with the amassing spacecraft and space junk in Earth's orbit.
