The Space Force must plan to deploy troops on orbiting space stations and at bases on the moon to prevent China from winning the new space race and controlling outer space, according to a report by an aerospace think tank.
The report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies warns that a sustained human military presence in space is needed to counter China’s growing space efforts that are run by the People’s Liberation Army, including plans for a moon base by 2030.
“China is poised to achieve positional advantage in setting norms, standards, and legal frameworks for lunar habitation and lunar economy,” states the report, made public May 22. “This condition is unacceptable for U.S. national security.”
Military troop deployments in space are needed to defend American interests over the long term and to prevent Chinese dominance in the region of low-Earth orbit to the moon in the 21st century, the report states.
Using unmanned drones for military operations or limiting space presence to civilians under the direction of NASA poses national security risks, based on China’s current designs on space, the report said.
A human military space presence is imperative because of the growing likelihood of a high-stakes competition for control of lunar access and resources.
“China’s own aggressive disposition on Earth and in space and the militarization of their human spaceflight programs make it clear that Guardians, under the purview of the U.S. Space Force, must seek to understand and cultivate its own spaceflight operations,” the report said, noting Beijing’s history of belligerent maritime and territorial assertion.
“With a potential ‘in person’ lunar conflict with China as the contextual touchstone, the U.S. must begin a pragmatic multi-decade effort, leveraging its Space Test Course (STC), as well as partnerships with NASA and commercial space companies, to deliver the skills, tools, and concepts needed for future Title 10 activities to enforce U.S. space power-enabling norms and standards,” the report said.
Title 10 is the U.S. code guiding all military operations.
China’s plans for a moon space station could violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty space program run by the PLA because the treaty prohibits claims of lunar sovereignty and militarizing the Moon.
The U.S. should seek to uphold the treaty, but pragmatically, preparations for a U.S. military base on the moon are needed despite the pact, the report said.
“China has consistently sought control of territory with belligerent force on the ground, sea, and air, and they are building the means to do so in space,” the report said.
Beijing’s leaders understand the future importance of space power and have underpinned their system with military hard power.
“Should China establish its space silk-road, built and sustained by the PLA, the influence and relative control the United States currently enjoys in space will become obsolete in the eyes of the world,” the report states.
“The United States must act now to achieve a space power vision that embraces human spaceflight. Only Guardians can ensure human spaceflight dominance…”
The report was written by retired Space Force Col. Kyle Pumroy, now a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute.
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