ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. military has long relied on large, expensive satellites parked in fixed orbits above the Earth. Some U.S. Space Force leaders believe it’s time to change that model in favor of more mobile and renewable satellites that can maneuver to avoid attack.
“We’ve got to be better at dynamic space operations,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, who runs the Space Force’s Space Systems Command and was nominated to be the next vice chief of the U.S. Space Force.
Speaking Dec. 13 at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower conference, Guetlein said the strategic competition with China in space will require the U.S. to shift its reliance on fixed assets in preset orbits to more “dynamic” systems — satellites that can move, be upgraded and adapt their tasks as needed.
The concept was first unveiled by U.S. Space Command’s deputy chief Lt. Gen. John Shaw, who recently retired. He described it as the need for satellites to maneuver away from threats or towards objects of interest.
Guetlein said the technologies needed to make this happen include new satellite designs with larger fuel tanks and ports for refueling or maintenance. In addition, in-orbit infrastructure must be in place to provide these services, as well as ground systems that are able to rapidly command satellites.
Kelly Hammett, head of the Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office, said his agency is playing an increasing role in this area.
The Space RCO directly supports the technology needs of U.S. Space Command and works mostly on classified projects.
Hammett said he was struck during a visit earlier this year to the Harwell Campus space cluster in the United Kingdom by the number of companies working on orbital refueling systems.
“In the…
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