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 aerospace researchers have warned that a war could extend from Earth into the vast space between our planet and the Moon, known as cislunar orbit. According to a study published in the Chinese-language Journal of Command and Control, rival spacecraft could engage in complex maneuvers to outmaneuver each other, hide in the Moon's gravitational environment, and block strategic routes.
These spacecraft could also be stationed at "choke points" to intercept opponents and force them into less efficient routes. Lead author Dang Zhaohui, an associate professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University's school of astronautics, noted that while a war could begin on Earth, it could quickly spread into cislunar space as countries aim to protect their space assets and deny adversaries freedom of movement.
The researchers identified six types of potential cislunar conflicts, ranging from individual spacecraft encounters to contests over entire regions. They emphasized that the battle for cislunar space would not be solely about maneuvering spacecraft but also about deception, misleading opponents, and identifying their intentions, all of which could prove just as challenging as physical space combat in this complex environment.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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