Space Force: Less Than a Decade Left to Win Space Race with China

When it comes to building up capabilities in space, China is outpacing the U.S., top military officials warn.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, December 08, 2021 at 06:13 PM ET

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A portion of the International Space Station's U.S. segment. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Top U.S. military officials warn that China is rapidly expanding its space capabilities at twice the U.S. rate, threatening to achieve dominance by 2030.
This space race is part of a broader strategic competition, with China rapidly modernizing its military and developing advanced threats like difficult-to-defend hypersonic weapons.
The U.S. currently lacks adequate defenses for these new threats and needs to urgently accelerate technological development, foster industry innovation, and build new capabilities to maintain military superiority.

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When it comes to building up capabilities in space, China is outpacing the U.S., top military officials warn.

“We are absolutely in a strategic competition with China and space is a part of that,” General David D. Thompson, vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, said at the Reagan National Defense Forum held over the weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.