Strategic Studies Institute

Building for the Future: China's Progress in Space Technology During the Tenth 5-year Plan and the U.s. Response Strategic Studies Institute

China's space program has achieved spectacular success in recent years. Since 2003 China has launched two human space flight missions, destroyed a satellite with a direct ascent anti-satellite weapon, and launched a moon orbiter. In this monograph, Mr. Kevin Pollpeter assesses China's rise as a space power and its implications for the United States. He argues that China's use of space power is part of an integrated approach to increasing its comprehensive national power and achieving great power status. As a result, China's increasing space power challenges the United States militarily, economically, commercially, and politically. China's increasing space capabilities will erode the U. S. lead in space in both absolute and relative terms. Nevertheless, the loss of preeminence in space need not result in the United States losing its role as the leading space power.