In the event that SpaceX’s Starlink satellites pose a threat, Chinese military researchers want their country ready to disable a massive Internet constellation, if not completely destroyed.
One paper, “The Development Status of Starlink and its Countermeasures”, was published in China’s peer-reviewed journal Modern Defense Technology. It discussed how to deal with a military threat – specifically, military threats facilitated by significantly faster communications – as well as what equipment China would need to counter the Starlink constellation.
According to the study’s lead author, Ren Yuanzhen of the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications, the Chinese military should be prepared to respond to Starlink’s expansion.
However, this paper which was earlier available has now reportedly been taken down.
According to the paper, which is available on other siteA combination of soft and hard kill methods must be used so that the Starlink satellites “lose their functions and destroy the constellation’s operating system,” citing reasons that it poses “hidden threats and challenges” to China. Huh.
The authors also suggested that Starlink could go “offensive” by using the satellites’ ion thrusters to push Chinese spacecraft or satellites out of orbit.
It should be noted here that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is building the Starlink satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, with the goal of providing high-speed internet to any location on the planet. Specifically, the plan hopes to launch 42,000 satellites into orbit with its Falcon 9 rocket. However, only 2,300 Starlink satellites are said to be operational in orbit.
It is believed that the main issue with satellites is that there are too many of them and destroying them would require an enormous number of anti-satellite missiles to destroy Starlink’s constellation. But, taking out one or two satellites will not cause the whole system to fail.
China is understood to have worried about the constellation after two Starlink satellites crashed into the country’s Tianhe space station last year.
The space station had to turn away from both accidents because Chinese astronauts were aboard.
Chinese scientists are concerned that SpaceX may soon dominate low Earth orbit, allowing the US military to gain control of a valuable region of space. Also in March, China expressed concern over Musk’s use of Starlink to supply the Internet Ukraine During the ongoing Russian invasion.
As previously reported, SpaceX shipped thousands of Starlink satellite internet kits to Ukraine. However, Musk sent Starlink terminals after Ukrainian official Mykhailo Fedorov requested aid from the billionaire, while Russia’s attacks disrupted internet service in the country.
However, following his support for Ukraine, Musk warned in an interview that taking down Starlink would be difficult because of its 2,000 satellites, which he claimed also had “too many anti-satellite missiles”.
during InterviewThey told Business Insider: “I hope we don’t have to test it, but I think we can launch satellites faster than we can launch anti-satellite missiles.”
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