The United States Space Force (USSF) has taken a significant step in the exploration of near-Earth space by signing a contract worth 60 million dollars with Gravitics to develop the first-ever orbital platform functionally resembling an aircraft carrier. This project, officially named the "space aircraft carrier", is intended to become a mobile center for the deployment of satellites and rapid response to threats in space.
The platform will serve as a base for compact spacecraft capable of quickly moving to the site of potential attacks on satellites or critical infrastructure. According to the military, such "orbital drones" will be able to:
- Conduct reconnaissance of enemy targets;
- Disable enemy satellites;
- Repair or replace damaged devices .
The project was launched amid growing tensions with China and Russia, which are actively testing anti-satellite weapons systems. The US Space Force has already signed a number of major contracts, including:
- $1.8 billion for ULA and SpaceX to launch military satellites ;
- 480 million dollars from Akima Five Rivers Analytics for analytical support .
The space aircraft carrier will become part of the Orbital Prime system, aimed at protecting the American satellite constellation, which includes more than 200 GPS, communications and surveillance devices. Experts note that the platform can change the rules of the game, providing the United States with technological superiority in near-Earth space.
No comments:
Post a Comment