Global Space Race Heats Up

Global Space Race Heats Up

21 May 2001

Russia's Security Council ordered the formation of the Russian Military Space Forces by June 1. Originally an independent sub-service reporting directly to the General Staff, Russia's Military Space Forces were placed under the control of the Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) in1997. The reinstatement of the military space force not only is a reversal of that decision, but also an effort to revive the influence space once had in military planning.

The Space Forces will work with Russia's commercial space program, Rosaviakosmos, or the Russian Aeronautics and Space Agency (RASA). By capitalizing on Russia's commercial satellite capabilities, Military Space Forces will launch and operate dual-purpose satellites for communications, navigation and high-altitude study of the Earth. The agency will have access to advanced technology though its cooperation with RASA and RASA's cooperation with other Western nations' space programs, including the European Aeronautic Defense and Space consortium.

Re-establishing a Russian Space Force is only a first step toward the re-emergence of Russia as a military space power, but it comes as the Pentagon revives its interest in space-based warfare. The Russian moves effectively justify U.S. plans to maintain a lead in space. Russia's actions will accelerate the ongoing space race - both military and commercial - involving America, Europe and Asia.

Overall, Russia's military satellite programs have deteriorated in recent years, while in the United States the trend has been the opposite. The United States operates more satellites, about 600, and conducts more operations, both military and commercial, in orbit than any other nation - from targeting precision-guided munitions in Kosovo to gathering intelligence from space.

By contrast, Russia's orbiting satellite group has slightly more than 100 vehicles, 80 percent of which have served out their operating lives, Space.com reported April 4. In the early 1990s, the former Soviet state had a reported 180 vehicles in orbit.

Russian Mir space station (left) was deorbited March 23 while the United States has been developing its space program with the Space Based Laser (right). Critics charge that Russian space activities have floundered since 1997, when then-President Boris Yeltsin consolidated the space forces under the RVSN. The Strategic Rocket Forces allegedly have exploited the military space budget without developing new space-based technologies or even maintaining the existing program.

The result has been detrimental for military operations. Russia's space command could not provide needed reconnaissance information to federal forces in Chechnya, Space.com reported April 18. Indeed, the former superpower currently has no photoreconnaissance satellite capability. Russia recently took two remaining photo-recon birds out of orbit, Jane's Defense Weekly reported May 9.

Russian attempts to revive its military space program coincide with a U.S. effort to re-organize its military space programs under a unified command within the U.S. Air Force.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld unveiled plans this month calling for new funding and technologies to better defend American space assets and operations. Rumsfeld headed the Commission to Assess U.S. National Security Space Management and Organization before taking the reins of the Pentagon and charted his course largely based on its findings.

In its January 2001 final report, the commission argued: "Although no country has a comprehensive space program to rival the United States, a growing number of nations have more limited programs or take part in international collaborative efforts to improve their national security, commercial and civil space capabilities. The U.S. will be tested over time by competing programs or attempts to restrict U.S. space activities through international regulations." The report specifically cited Russia, China and India as countries to watch.

However, Rumsfeld punted the issue of space weapons. He contended that advancing that plan at this time would not be in the national security interest of the United States because it would propel others, such as China and Russia, to do the same, further threatening the U.S. space assets Rumsfeld believes are vulnerable.

For the short to mid-term, the United States will retain the advantage in space over Russia, China and other comers. Facing a stronger economic base and advanced technology, it will be years before Moscow could even pretend to achieve parity with Washington.

Over the long term, Russia could challenge the United States in space. This prospect will serve the purposes of U.S. military planners who contend American space supremacy will not last. Depending on Russia's success, Washington may re-evaluate its decision not to deploy space weapons sooner than expected. Although inevitable, a re-emerging Russian space program could hasten warfare outside the Earth's atmosphere.


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