U.S. plans 'space carrier' to secure orbital advantage
The United States is expanding its space capabilities by planning to place a "space carrier" in orbit. On board, there will be room for small satellites that can be deployed as needed, offering readiness for action faster than their counterparts launched from Earth.
How can the time from deciding on a space mission to its execution be shortened? Over the years, many attempts have been made to solve this problem. One such attempt was the ALASA program, which aimed to use F-15 aircraft as flying spaceports.
Research conducted by DARPA (the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency) intended to enable the United States to quickly send various payloads into orbit in the event of armed conflict. This was to allow for the efficient replacement of satellites destroyed by adversaries and, at the same time, make the Pentagon less dependent on extensive, costly, and vulnerable space infrastructure.
Although the ALASA program was discontinued, in recent years, the Americans have implemented its goals differently from the original plan. 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 major advancement.
Space carrier
The time required to place new satellites into orbit may be further reduced thanks to an agreement between the US Space Force and the company Gravitics.
Gravitics is tasked with developing the technology needed to build a space carrier (Orbital Carrier) for $60 million, on which an entire fleet of small satellites will be sent into orbit simultaneously. The funds for this initiative come from the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program, which aims to accelerate the development of military-useful technologies developed by small companies.
The carrier's payload will be protected from space conditions while being concealed from enemy observation systems, making it impossible for adversaries to determine in advance what forces the Pentagon has in orbit.
As a result, the United States aims to be able to react swiftly in situations where the American space infrastructure is attacked or somehow damaged — quick replacements for out-of-service equipment are to be provided by satellites ready on the carrier's deck.
While their number, size, and functions may be limited, this setup will allow US space forces to respond flexibly and swiftly to hostile actions in space. The schedule for work on the space carrier has not been disclosed, but according to Gravitics, a demonstration mission could take place in 2026.
Anti-satellite capabilities
Efforts by the Pentagon to safeguard against the destruction of space infrastructure are a response to increasing threats, as more nations develop 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, under the Shakti mission, India also destroyed a satellite in low orbit.
In 2021, Russia conducted a similar test and demonstrated its capability by destroying its own satellite, Cosmos 1408, in space (its debris posed a threat to the International Space Station).
Israel is also considered a country with anti-satellite capabilities. Although Israeli tests have not involved the destruction of satellites, in 2023, Israel used an Arrow 3 missile to intercept a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis.
The interception occurred outside the Earth’s atmosphere, in space, demonstrating Israel’s ability to destroy satellites in low orbits. These capabilities were confirmed in 2024 with the destruction of an Iranian missile in space.
Space superiority
Alongside missiles launched from Earth, military satellites capable of manoeuvring and quickly changing orbit are also a threat. Tests of such devices have been successfully conducted by Russia, and a Chinese test involving coordinated manoeuvres of five space objects was described by the US as a test of manoeuvrable orbital combat.
Another threat, highlighted by Russia, is the potential use of nuclear weapons in space. In such a circumstance, not only would the explosion itself threaten satellites, but the accompanying electromagnetic pulse would too.
In the context of the space arms race, the capabilities being pursued by the US Space Force take on particular significance — in the event of a conflict encompassing Earth’s orbit, having an edge could be achieved not only through the ability to destroy an adversary’s space infrastructure but by the ability to maintain and rapidly rebuild one's own capabilities in space.
