Chinese scientists have expressed fears that the secret space plane of the U.S. military X-37B could be weaponized as a “space killer”. American space force’s X-37B plane embarked on its eighth mission last month.
Researchers from China’s Space Engineering University believe that with the recent mission of the space plane, the U.S. is possibly aiming to maintain its space supremacy.
They have pointed out that the plane could be weaponized as a “space killer”. Wang Tiantian and Feng Songjiang from the university’s Space Security Research Centre have expressed fears that the plane has dynamic capabilities and with its onboard systems, it could be used as a key component of American military’s ‘Prompt Global Strike’ system in the future.
Uncrewed spaceplane
The uncrewed, autonomous spaceplane designed by Boeing is used for advanced experimentation and technology testing.
So far, the plane has completed seven successful missions, logging over 1.3 billion miles and spending thousands of days in space. Each mission adds new capabilities and technology tests, making the X-37B a critical platform for advancing space technology.
The plane, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, offers exceptional performance and durability. It’s capable of conducting a wide range of experiments and missions.
Plane could create more security risks
Chinese researchers have stressed that the rapid development of the X-37B has created more security risks and unnecessary international competition.
“With the development and application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and nuclear thermal propulsion, the X-37B is developing in a smarter and more flexible direction. This development trend may reshape the landscape of space competition, and its huge military potential is likely to trigger a new round of the space arms race,” said researchers.
Reports have revealed that Beijing is also extending its military reach into space with its reusable robotic Shenlong craft.
The Shenlong completed its third and most recent orbital test in September last year, landing in the Gobi Desert after 268 days in space, according to state media. The Shenlong was suspected of sending a strong signal to Earth while flying over North America in 2023. China is also ramping up its ability to target satellites, aimed at weakening or denying adversaries access to space, reported SCMP.
The X-37B’s autonomous re-entry capability ensures safe and reliable returns, enabling quick refurbish, reprocess, and re-fly cycles. This adaptability supports a variety of scientific and technological advancements, contributing to the future of space exploration. On March 7, the plane completed its seventh mission and successfully landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
While in orbit, Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments.