By David Axe
Today, though, tensions are exacerbated by the world's limited ability to monitor US space activities. While the United States has extensive technology for tracking foreign spacecraft, other countries are mostly blind, despite China's dramatic anti-satellite test. ‘When another state, say Russia or China, uses their dual-use technology, the US has the ability to determine that that was not a hostile act,’ Weeden says. ‘But when the US does it, in most cases no one else has information to independently verify what's going on. That creates a problem.’
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Regardless of the Air Force's intentions regarding the X-37, the fact remains that its capabilities represent an escalation of the space race with China. The Obama campaign platform ironically described the operationally-responsive space system as a stabilizing influence. ‘Recognizing their vulnerability, Obama will work to protect our assets in space by pursuing new technologies and capabilities that allow us to avoid attacks and recover from them quickly.’
‘The United States is committed to addressing the challenges of responsible behavior in space,’ the platform continued, ‘and commits further to a pledge of cooperation, in the belief that with strengthened international cooperation and reinvigorated US leadership, all nations will find their horizons broadened, their knowledge enhanced, and their lives greatly improved.’
The X-37 protects US space architecture, thus preserving US leadership in space to the benefit of the whole world—or so the Obama administration’s reasoning seems to go. That might be true, were the X-37 only capable of replacing lost satellites. But in the absence of greater transparency on Washington’s part, the X-37's ability to also compromise other nations’ orbital systems actually undermines US leadership. ‘If I'm Russia, China and less so India, I see the US moving into a next-generation space capability,’ Sterner says. ‘I'm going to be a little bit worried about the relative balance of power changing.’
To prevent the X-37 from further escalating the space race, the US should share monitoring technology with the world—and China in particular, Weeden says. ‘That's something that could help with this. You increase the amount of information about what's going on in space. The tricky part, of course, is doing that while still protecting the pieces of that data that are essential to national security. It can be done, but it takes a fine balance.’
Such ‘balanced’ collaboration would amount to a reversal of the current US policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding the X-37. Realistically, this might require a commensurate show of faith on China's part. After all, the Chinese anti-satellite test preceded the X-37’s launch and underscored the military utility of the new US craft.
For Washington to commit to keeping its hands off other countries’ satellites and keeping weapons out of space, Beijing just might have to do the same.
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Malik Endsley
good job on the info
Guy Fawkes
So while the US wastes trillions on wars and useless weapons, China is busy building the real weapon of mass destruction, a sound economy. No mention of the cost of this, odds are its huge. Also you can bet many if not most of the key components were made in China.
Steve
If this thing is as maneuverable as suggested, maybe ,just maybe, we are actually tagging their satellites with a device to immobilize it on command, maybe just temporary,make it look like a glitch? Not an actual weapon per-se? So this thing is in place,just in case we need to blind them just flip a switch.
Garry Perrin
…Washington could quickly loft a replacement into orbit.
Totally unrealistic…
John
What makes this craft anymore of a threat than say the shuttle program. Every country that has the capability of spying is. This notion of America wanting the world be real about it would you want it. All countries are trying their own things plus whatever they can steal from other countries. In today’s world all countries should be fighting the terrorist of the world. I see that even the great defender of terrorist organization’s (Iran) can’t trust all they sleep with. They are in denial and still blame the west & Israel. WAKE UP IRAN WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND maybe some infidels may fly an airplane into a building near you stay tuned. China to care about what they think of anything the U.S. is doing FREE YOUR PEOPLE. The only reason they ran that guy over with a tank was to save on amunition.
destiny
I think this is cool…yes its an unmanned spaceship….what does it do?…we are at war with china. Not a immature one like guns or missals. An economic one… They have stole a lot of data and secretes from the USA and Russia. we need to know how to do things. This requires secrete projects.. scientific in nature… a must for the future… I rather not be out of date when we need to leave earth because of over population in the next 500years…where is china new real estates? MARs or the moon..
rockne1865
The only way the US should share their Military Space Tech is if the rest of the world lays down its Arms and embraces human rights! this includes Terrorists. At least the US is not blowing up Satellites in orbit filling the orbit with junk endangering other Satellites! The US Broke 1 up as it was falling so it would burn up!