Adapted by:
Matías S. Zavia
WriterAerospace and energy industries journalist at Xataka.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
During a public talk at Nanjing University in East China, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) explained that the team is designing a rapid-response system for the country’s Tiangong space station.
This space defense system is unprecedented for a space station. It’ll deploy small propelled robots that can grab and push away any object that invades the station’s exclusion zone.
How it works. The goal of the CAS’ National Space Science Center is to avoid destruction. Instead, the aim is to pull intruding objects away, protecting the crew and the station’s infrastructure. Each robot will be equipped with an autonomous propulsion system and a tether arm or ring.
Before launching a robot, the system will first consider less aggressive options, such as an evasive maneuver or an altitude adjustment of the station. If the risk persists, a device will be dispatched. After assessing the trajectory of the unauthorized object, a robot will anchor to it and move it several miles away from Tiangong’s orbit.
Beyond space warfare. On July 1 and Oct. 21, 2021, China had to execute emergency maneuvers to prevent the Tiangong space station from colliding with two Starlink satellites. The satellites had descended from a 340-mile orbit to hover at 250 miles, the station’s usual altitude.
Although SpaceX says that its satellites have automatic avoidance protocols, China informed the United Nations that the proliferation of large satellite constellations reduces the operational safety margin and complicates real-time coordination to protect its astronauts.
Space warfare. Some analysts have described the Chinese initiative as a first step toward possible “orbital dogfighting.” However, they acknowledge that if the non-lethal nature of the robots is verified, it would function more as a physical deterrent rather than a traditional weapon.
Other countries are also developing similar docking and towing systems to remove large pieces of space debris, such as defunct satellites, old rocket stages, and damaged spacecraft. The critical difference will be in the timing and targets of these systems, considering the potential for military escalation in space and the increase in surveillance satellites.
No violation of space law. Details regarding the mass, fuel, and number of robots remain confidential, as does the planned deployment date. However, the Outer Space Treaty prohibits only the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit. It doesn’t ban conventional kinetic devices or towing systems.
If the robots are limited to pushing without causing harm, they would comply with the principle of peaceful use. However, the ability to alter the trajectory of another state’s spacecraft could raise disputes regarding “harmful interference,” a concept addressed in the same treaty. For now, it seems that China is preparing an active “orbital escort” system.
Image | NASA
View 0 comments