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China’s military space ambitions have been outlined in the Pentagon’s annual report to Congress. The report shows that China is rapidly developing its space program, with the goal of becoming a fully capable space power. China’s space capabilities are seen as a source of national pride and are part of President Xi Jinping’s vision for a powerful and prosperous country.

The report reveals that China has the second-largest number of operational satellites in the world, behind only the United States. The country has five launch sites and conducted over 60 successful launches last year, triple its cadence from five years prior. China also deployed five times more satellites into orbit compared to five years ago.

China operates a fleet of over 290 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites, which have the capability to monitor and track U.S. and allied forces worldwide. The country also has over 60 communications satellites in orbit for both military and civilian use. Additionally, China completed its BeiDou constellation, a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite system similar to the U.S. GPS system.

China’s space capabilities also include an operational system of anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles, which can target and destroy satellites in low Earth orbit. The Pentagon believes China intends to develop ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit.

In addition to its military space capabilities, China has an independent, operational crewed space station and has successfully sent robotic landers and rovers to the moon and Mars. China is also experimenting with in-orbit servicing and has launched satellites with a robotic arm for potential use in grappling adversary satellites.

The report serves as a reminder of China’s status as a significant rival to the United States in the space domain. China’s capabilities span various areas of space technology and pose a challenge to the U.S. in multiple ways.

Meanwhile, other developments in the space industry include United Launch Alliance (ULA) targeting Christmas Eve for its inaugural launch, and Rocket Lab preparing to resume Electron launches before year-end. Boeing has postponed its parachute system test for its Starliner capsule, and Sierra Space is nearing its first Dream Chaser spaceplane launch. Additionally, ABL is gearing up to launch again after a review process, and NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity continues to carry out flights on the red planet.

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