Chinese military researchers say their country should be able to destroy SpaceX's Starlink satellite if it threatens national security. One way is to develop anti-satellite weapons.
According to a paper published in the journal Modern Defense Technology, China needs to develop anti-satellite technology, including a spy system that can monitor all Starlink satellites. The study was led by Ren Yuanzhen, a researcher from the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications.
"The combination of soft kill and hard kill methods should be adopted to make some Starlink satellites lose their functionality and destroy the constellation operating system," Ren and colleagues wrote in the paper, as quoted by the South China Morning Post, Friday (27/5/2022).
Starlink is a satellite internet project developed by SpaceX to spread broadband internet from space to users around the world. This ambitious project will involve tens of thousands of satellites joining the constellation.
Elon Musk as the founder of SpaceX is actually quite popular in China because he is considered a role model for technological innovation. But recently Musk and SpaceX have been the subject of criticism after two Starlink satellites nearly crashed into China's space station last year.
Not only for commercial use, Starlink satellites can also be used for military activities. SpaceX is under contract with the US Department of Defense to develop new technology based on the Starlink platform, including sensitive instruments that can detect and track hypersonic weapons in the atmosphere.
Ren also estimates that US military drones and fighter jets can increase their data transmission speed by up to 100 times thanks to the connection from Starlink.
With more than 2,300 satellites to be added, Starlink is believed to be indestructible because the system can still function despite the loss of several satellites.
China claims to have developed several laser imaging devices that can capture satellite photos in orbit in high resolution. But in addition to optical and radar imaging, Ren said China should also be able to intercept signals from the Starlink satellites to detect potential threats.
Ren said China has also demonstrated its ability to destroy satellites using missiles. But this method can create a large amount of space junk and the cost is too great.
So far, China has developed several alternative anti-satellite technologies, including microwaves that can interfere with communications or burn electronic components.
Chinese scientists are also developing lasers that can blind and damage satellites, nano-satellites that can be launched to damage large satellites, and cyberweapons that can be used to break into satellite communications networks.