US space forces accelerate with new orbital carrier plan
The United States is expanding its space capabilities with plans to place a "space carrier" in orbit. Aboard this carrier, there will be room for small satellites that can be deployed as needed, offering readiness for action more quickly than those launched from Earth.
How can the time from deciding on a space mission to its execution be shortened? Over the years, many have attempted to solve this problem. One such effort was the ALASA program, which aimed to use F-15 aircraft as flying spaceports.
Research conducted by DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) was intended to allow the United States to quickly send various payloads into orbit in the event of armed conflict. This was designed to efficiently replace satellites destroyed by adversaries and, simultaneously, make the Pentagon less reliant on extensive, costly, and vulnerable space infrastructure.
Although the ALASA program was discontinued, in recent years, the U.S. has pursued its goals differently. Through the Victus Nox mission, the time from decision to launch was reduced to just 27 hours, which—compared to months of preparation—represents a significant advancement.
Space carrier
An agreement between the U.S. Space Force and Gravitics may further reduce the time required to place new satellites into orbit.
Gravitics is tasked with developing the technology needed to build a space carrier (Orbital Carrier) for $60 million, capable of sending an entire fleet of small satellites into orbit simultaneously. Funds for this initiative come from the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program, which aims to accelerate the development of military-useful technologies by small companies.
The carrier's payload will be protected from space conditions and hidden from enemy observation systems, making it impossible for adversaries to predict what forces the Pentagon has in orbit.
As a result, the United States aims to react quickly when the American space infrastructure is attacked or otherwise compromised, with quick replacements for out-of-service equipment provided by satellites ready on the carrier's deck.
Although their number, size, and functions will likely be limited, this approach will allow U.S. space forces to respond flexibly and swiftly to hostile actions in space. The timeline for the space carrier's development has not been disclosed, but according to Gravitics, a demonstration mission could take place in 2026.
Anti-satellite capabilities
The Pentagon's efforts to protect against the destruction of space infrastructure are a response to increasing threats. More and more countries are developing their own anti-satellite capabilities.
The United States successfully tested the ASM-135 ASAT anti-satellite missile in the mid-1980s. In 2007, China destroyed its own satellite, Fengyun-1C, with an SC-19 ASAT missile. In 2019, India destroyed a satellite in low orbit under the Shakti mission.
In 2021, Russia conducted a similar test, demonstrating its capability by destroying its own satellite, Cosmos 1408, in space (the debris posed a threat to the International Space Station).
Israel is also considered a country with anti-satellite capabilities. Although Israeli tests have not included the destruction of satellites, in 2023, Israel used an Arrow 3 missile to destroy a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis.
The destruction occurred outside the Earth's atmosphere, in space, suggesting Israel's capability to destroy satellites in low orbits. These capabilities were confirmed in 2024 by the destruction of an Iranian missile in space.
Space superiority
In addition to missiles launched from Earth, maneuverable military satellites that can quickly change orbit also pose a threat. Russia has successfully tested such objects, and a Chinese test involving coordinated maneuvers of five space objects was described by the U.S. as a demonstration of maneuverable orbital combat.
Another threat, highlighted by Russia, is the potential use of nuclear weapons in space. In such a scenario, not only would the explosion itself pose a threat to satellites, but the resulting electromagnetic pulse would as well.
In the context of the space arms race, the capabilities being pursued by the U.S. Space Force are particularly significant—providing an edge in the event of a conflict in Earth's orbit, not just through the ability to destroy the adversary’s space infrastructure but also through the ability to maintain and rapidly rebuild its own capabilities in space.
