Is the US preparing a military space station?

The research contract announcement was published by launchlaunch Gravitics, founded in 2021. The startup is developing a prototype called StarMaxwith a diameter of 7.6 meters and a volume of 400 m.³or 40% of the total volume of the current International Space Station.

Even more responsive in space

The US Space Force, the Pentagon’s space arm, is actively seeking any technology that will allow it to more quickly respond to its space operations. The Pentagon wants to be able to react very quickly in the event of a threat in space, such as a missile or enemy satellite arriving at its satellites.

Video presentation of Gravitics space station projects. © Gravitics

Russia and China are often cited as a threat to US military satellites, including spy satellites, patrol satellites or even zombie satellites. Last year, the Pentagon ordered a high-performance mission test from two US companies called Victus Knoxwhich was a success.

Space station for tactical operations?

Without a doubt, it is here doordoor US Space Force interest in gravity technologies. In general, the station module can be used for many purposes, including making it even more responsive than on Earth.

Could we one day see an American military space station in orbit? Armed forces are increasingly turning to orbit to conduct experiments in microgravitymicrogravity impossible to do either on Earth or in civilian programs such as the International Space Station. The Italian army has already transported an entire crew to the country. suborbitalsuborbital With Virgin GalaxyVirgin Galaxyand even sent one of his own to spend several days on the ISS along with the Axiom-3 flight.