The US X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle

美國X-37B空天飛機。

Recently, a US commercial space company announced that it had secured a USD60 million contract from the US Space Force to develop an orbital transport vehicle. According to available information, the vehicle will be capable of carrying multiple maneuverable satellites and releasing them rapidly to perform various tasks when needed. For this reason, it has been dubbed an "orbital carrier." Analysts warn that once operational, the program will not only enhance the US military's space combat capabilities but also intensify military competition in outer space and pose a serious threat to space security.

不久前，美國一家商業(yè)航天公司宣布其獲得美太空軍價值6000萬美元的合同，負責開發(fā)軌道運輸機。根據(jù)相關介紹，這款軌道運輸機可預先搭載多顆具備機動能力的衛(wèi)星，必要時迅速釋放執(zhí)行各種任務，由此也被稱為“軌道航母”。有分析人士指出，該項目一旦成功，在提高美軍太空作戰(zhàn)能力的同時，勢必也將加劇太空軍事博弈，給太空安全帶來嚴重挑戰(zhàn)。

The US has long attached great importance to securing dominance in space. To gain the upper hand in offensive and defensive operations, the US Space Force views space mobility as a core capability and has made sustained satellite maneuverability a top priority in its development agenda. In 2023, the US Space Force introduced the concept of "Dynamic Space Operations," which advocates for large-scale on-orbit maneuvers by spacecraft to provide space-based information support and conduct offensive and defensive operations. In April this year, the US Space Force designated "space control" as one of its core functions and prioritized the development of on-orbit maneuverability. The "orbital carrier" program is expected to further advance the implementation of relevant concepts and facilitate related deployments.

長期以來，美國一直都非常重視對制天權的爭奪。為在攻防對抗中占據(jù)主動權，美太空軍將太空機動性視為核心能力之一，把實現(xiàn)持續(xù)的衛(wèi)星機動列為軍種建設的優(yōu)先事項。2023年，美太空軍就提出“動態(tài)太空行動”概念，主張通過航天器大范圍在軌機動，動態(tài)遂行天基信息支援與攻防對抗作戰(zhàn)。今年4月，美太空軍將“太空控制”確立為太空軍核心職能，把在軌機動能力作為建設重點?！败壍篮侥浮表椖繉⑦M一步推進相關概念及部署落地。

Traditionally, launching satellites from the ground is a time-consuming process, and most satellites are confined to their designated orbits until they run out of fuel. Besides, satellite networks are vulnerable to space environment disruptions and potential adversary attacks, so they often lack survivability and operational resilience. In contrast, an "orbital carrier" could serve as a pre-positioned launch platform in space that is capable of deploying new satellites within hours in response to emerging threats. This rapid replenishment capability would enable the US military to maintain continuous situational awareness and communication functions, even in the face of critical infrastructure losses.

從傳統(tǒng)上來看，由地面發(fā)射衛(wèi)星往往耗時較久，且這些衛(wèi)星大多只能保持在其軌道上運行，直至燃料耗盡。此外，衛(wèi)星網(wǎng)絡易遭受太空環(huán)境干擾或敵方破壞，生存能力薄弱、運行韌性不足。“軌道航母”在面對突發(fā)太空威脅時，則可充當太空中的預置發(fā)射平臺，在數(shù)小時內部署新衛(wèi)星。這種快速彌補被摧毀關鍵設施的能力，可確保美軍持續(xù)的態(tài)勢感知和通信能力。

The "orbital carrier" could also enhance the tactical responsiveness of the US military. The US Space Force aims to achieve its Tactically Responsive Space objective by 2026, which envisions placing satellites into designated orbits within 24 hours of receiving a launch order. If successfully developed, the "orbital carrier," with its long-term deployment model characterized by pre-positioning in orbit and on-demand release, would allow satellites to adjust their orbits or orientations in response to evolving mission needs. This would significantly improve deployment efficiency and maneuverability, and enable rapid occupation of advantageous orbital positions at critical moments.

“軌道航母”還可加強美軍的戰(zhàn)術響應能力。美太空軍計劃于2026年實現(xiàn)“戰(zhàn)術響應太空”目標，即從接到發(fā)射命令起，在24小時內將衛(wèi)星送入既定軌道。若“軌道航母”成功開發(fā)，其“軌道預置+按需釋放”的長期駐留模式，可根據(jù)任務的變化，及時調整衛(wèi)星的軌道或姿態(tài)，將有效提高部署效率和機動能力，關鍵時刻能夠迅速搶占有利軌位。

Available information suggests that the "orbital carrier" may be designed with reserved interfaces for mounting weapons to enable the rapid execution of offensive or defensive tactical operations. This development would further increase the opacity of military activities in outer space, thus warranting serious concern. After all, it would be extremely difficult for other countries to determine whether the system is carrying satellites or offensive weapons capable of launching attacks. Some foreign experts have warned that once this technology matures, orbital transport vehicles could be readily converted into space-based weapons platforms, which would turn outer space into a battlefield for the arbitrary deployment of weapons. Given such uncertainties, other countries may be compelled to take countermeasures to safeguard their security, which could in turn escalate military confrontation in space and pose serious challenges to global space governance.

相關資料表明，“軌道航母”在設計時或將預留武器搭載接口，助力快速實施進攻或防御的戰(zhàn)術行動。這就加劇了太空軍事的不透明性，需要引起高度警惕。畢竟其他國家很難準確判斷其搭載的是衛(wèi)星，還是能發(fā)動襲擊的進攻性武器。有國外專家分析認為，這種技術一旦成熟，軌道運輸機可隨時轉化為太空武器平臺，將使太空變成隨意部署武器的戰(zhàn)場。專家指出，面對這種不確定性，其他國家為了自身安全，不得不采取相應的措施，這極有可能導致太空軍事對抗的升級，給太空治理帶來巨大挑戰(zhàn)。