War on Earth could spill over to the moon, Chinese space scientists warn
In a rare study, Chinese aerospace researchers have explored how a war could one day spill into the vast space between the Earth and the moon, with rival spacecraft chasing and evading each other, trying to slip past defences and even blocking strategic routes. Spacecraft could hide in the complex gravitational environment around the moon, where their trajectories are difficult to predict, before…
Chinese space scientists have warned that an Earth war could extend to the moon, where rival spacecraft could engage in complex maneuvers. According to a study published in the Chinese-language Journal of Command and Control, spacecraft might hide in the moon's gravitational environment before emerging to target Earth-based assets.
These spacecraft could also station themselves near "choke points" – strategic regions where routes converge – to disrupt rivals or force them onto less efficient paths. The lead author of the report, Dang Zhaohui, an associate professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University's school of astronautics, noted that while direct force may not be necessary, the ability to control and access space remains crucial.
Cislunar space, the region where Earth and the moon's gravity interact, presents far more intricate paths for spacecraft compared to satellites orbiting closer to Earth. As modern warfare increasingly relies on space-based capabilities, conflicts on Earth could potentially spill into this region, as countries strive to safeguard their assets while denying adversaries freedom of operation.
The Chinese researchers have categorized potential cislunar conflicts into six types, such as pursuit and evasion, attack and defense, blockade and counter-blockade, and deception and identification. These scenarios could range from individual spacecraft encounters to broader territorial contests. The authors caution that current models often assume reliable tracking of spacecraft and mutual understanding of intentions, which may not hold true in the vast and complex cislunar environment.
Future research must address how decisions are made when information is incomplete or delayed, as the ultimate contest may involve both maneuvering spacecraft through space and misleading adversaries.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
