From Foreign Affairs · Kathleen Curlee · · 2m
China's Space Race
China's reusable rockets threaten U.S. space dominance with military and commercial applications.
In brief
China's reusable rockets threaten U.S. space dominance with military and commercial applications. China's reusable rocket technology and military satellite capabilities challenge U.S. space dominance, requiring strategic adaptation. Originally reported by Foreign Affairs.
China's Rocket Recovery Milestone
LandSpace successfully recovered a rocket booster on land in August 2026, marking the first time a Chinese firm achieved this feat.
“the first time a chinese firm recovered a rocket on land”
China's Space Industry Growth
Chinese rocket launches increased from 39 to 92 annually between 2020 and 2025, with hundreds of thousands of satellite licenses applied for.
“between 2020 and 2025, the number of rockets launched annually by chinese companies more than doubled, from 39 to 92”
Military Space Capabilities
The People's Liberation Army is developing space weapons to attack satellites, posing risks to u.s. military communications and navigation.
“the people's liberation army sees space superiority as essential to winning future wars”
Satellite Internet Competition
Chinese companies plan to launch nearly 30,000 communications satellites to compete with SpaceX's Starlink network of over 11,000 satellites.
“the entities operating the guowang and qianfan satellite constellations plan to launch nearly 30,000 communications satellites over the next decade”
Military Satellite Threats
China operates more than 500 satellites for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, targeting u.s. military assets in the kill chain.
“according to the pentagon, china operates more than 500 satellites that can conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions”
Antisatellite Weapons
China has developed antisatellite missiles and electronic warfare tools to disrupt satellite signals without destroying them.
“since 2007, when it conducted its first successful test of an antisatellite missile, china has developed other tools, including electronic warfare and directed-energy weapons”
Ukraine Satellite Support
Chinese firms provided satellite imagery to russian forces during the 2022 invasion of ukraine, aiding military operations.
“during russia's full-scale invasion of ukraine in 2022, chinese firms provided satellite imagery of the battlefield that helped russian forces conduct military operations”
U.S. Space Vulnerabilities
U.S. military relies on satellites for communications, navigation, and targeting, but china's capabilities threaten this dependence.
“the u.s. military depends on space for communications, situational awareness, and navigation”
U.S. Response Strategies
The U.S. Space Force is diversifying satellite placements and developing alternatives like inertial navigation systems and quantum sensors.
“the u.s. space force has diversified the placement of some of its most sensitive assets and increased procurement of new satellites”
Space Launch Competition
SpaceX's near monopoly on launches creates risks for u.s. space operations, with plans to retire the Falcon 9 rocket by 2026.
“this year, space x announced plans to retire the falcon nine, its main reusable rocket”
Military-Commercial Synergy
China's space industry integrates commercial and military applications, reducing dependence on u.s. satellite systems like gps.
“china has since created spacecraft for communications; navigation; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance that would have been unimaginable to pla officials who observed desert storm”
Allied Space Cooperation
NATO's HALO initiative connects sovereign military satellites to streamline communications and missile tracking across allies.
“in july, eight u.s. allies launched the halo initiative, which aims to connect sovereign military satellites into a network”
China's Strategic Focus
Beijing has consistently pursued space objectives since the early 1990s, adapting programs as technology evolves without losing sight of its end goal.
“beijing has pursued its space objectives consistently since the early 1 990s, revising programs as technology evolves without losing sight of its end goal”
U.S. Space Strategy
The U.S. must maintain a competitive launch industry and invest in emerging space technologies to counter china's advancements.
“the united states should continue awarding government contracts to more companies to foster a more competitive domestic launch industry”
The New Space Race
China's space rise necessitates u.s. strategic adaptation to maintain dominance in the evolving multipolar space landscape.
“staying ahead in the new space race will require both investing in space architecture and establishing backup plans to offset the dangers of the emerging multipolar space age”
The takeaway
China's reusable rocket technology and military satellite capabilities challenge U.S. space dominance, requiring strategic adaptation.
