Not Too Far

Developments in military space technologies. An extract

Gp Capt. TH Anand Rao

Space technologies of the 21^st century, aided by miniaturization and enabled by a software revolution have facilitated the accessibility to space, thus, fuelling the rapid growth of space objects in the Earth’s orbit. These technological developments being dual use, will also have military utility and, thus, the fears of vitiating the space environment would always remain. Despite the deep military underpinnings of many of these space technologies, the reduction in costs of space companies has meant more commercialisation of space and a potentially booming space economy. Some major game changer technologies are given in the subsequent paragraphs.

Rendezvous and Proximity Operations: Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPOs) were being tested since 2005 by the US under the Demonstration of Automated Rendezvous Technologies (DART) project. This is a primary capability required for automated docking of capsules to a spaceship. Besides docking with spaceships, the RPO has multiple utility. This one single game changer capability has enabled multiple options for civil and military satellite operators. RPO has been used for satellite-on-satellite approaches by Russia and China for unknown reasons. The US too has exercised this activity with its own satellites. The known purposes are for repair and servicing, refuelling of satellites and a satellite inspection. RPO, being a dual use phenomenon, the unknown activity could be for military purposes which vary from a flyby inspection to electronic jamming, lasing or even causing physical damage. This capability is also being planned for experiments to attach with dead satellites and bring them closer to the Earth’s atmosphere for a burn up.

Satellite Servicing: RPO is also the primary capability required for satellite repair and servicing. This will include robotic repairs, replacement of solar panels and even refuelling of the target satellite. These activities—especially refuelling—give a fresh lease of life to satellite and can increase the satellite’s life much beyond the design life of 7-8 years in low Earth Orbit (LEO). Satellite servicing is set to change the economics of the space industry, the mantra being to ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Refuel in space!

Reusability: Reuse of space rockets has been the major factor in bringing down launch costs. From being able to reuse the first stage rocket engine, successfully being done by SpaceX for the Falcon 9 boosters, we are now on the verge of fully reusable rockets under trial. Space X’s Big Falcon rockets and Blue Origin’s ‘New Shephard’ rocket are set to be the first fully reusable rockets. The small rocket manufacturer ‘Rocket Labs’ is promising a game changer rockets. The small rocket manufacturer ‘Rocket Labs’ is promising a game changer rocket called the ‘Neutron’ which will have full reusability and is expected to have a first launch in 2024.

Spacelift: Space transportation is being envisioned in a novel concept which would entail passengers and logistics being spacelifted—not only to planetary destinations like the Moon