Reuters, Colorado :
The United States needs disruptive new technologies, new ways of acquiring equipment and bandwidth, and closer ties with global allies to stay ahead of growing challenges in space from China, Russia and others, the head of U.S. Air Force Space Command told Reuters.
General John Hyten said the United States had been bracing for threats to its satellite systems for years, but continued anti-satellite testing by potential foes had fueled a fresh sense of urgency in both industry and government about the need to prepare to win a possible war in space.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it,” Hyten said in an interview, warning that a virtual or physical war in space would be devastating to the global environment and economy.
“We’re not going to be bested. We will not,” he said.
Hyten and other leaders challenged business executives at the annual Space Symposium conference in Colorado Springs to develop ways to automate flight safety for rockets, set up a common ground system to track, communicate with and control satellites, and continue cutting costs of multibillion-dollar systems.
The United States needs disruptive new technologies, new ways of acquiring equipment and bandwidth, and closer ties with global allies to stay ahead of growing challenges in space from China, Russia and others, the head of U.S. Air Force Space Command told Reuters.
General John Hyten said the United States had been bracing for threats to its satellite systems for years, but continued anti-satellite testing by potential foes had fueled a fresh sense of urgency in both industry and government about the need to prepare to win a possible war in space.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it,” Hyten said in an interview, warning that a virtual or physical war in space would be devastating to the global environment and economy.
“We’re not going to be bested. We will not,” he said.
Hyten and other leaders challenged business executives at the annual Space Symposium conference in Colorado Springs to develop ways to automate flight safety for rockets, set up a common ground system to track, communicate with and control satellites, and continue cutting costs of multibillion-dollar systems.
