Wars that begin on Earth could eventually extend into the vast space between Earth and the Moon, where rival countries could use spacecraft to track and evade one another, bypass defensive systems and block strategic routes, according to a rare study by Chinese space researchers.
A team of researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an said spacecraft could exploit the complex gravitational environment around the Moon to conceal their trajectories.
Spacecraft operating in these regions can be more difficult to track and predict, the researchers said. They could potentially emerge from such areas when needed and move towards targets near Earth.
The study also described the possibility of positioning spacecraft at strategic “choke points” where important or fuel-efficient space routes converge.
By occupying such positions, a spacecraft could obstruct an adversary’s vehicle and force it either to overcome the obstruction or take an alternative route requiring more fuel.
The study, published in July in the Chinese-language Journal of Command and Control, said such capabilities could allow countries to exert influence over rivals without engaging in direct conflict.
Lead author Dang Zhaohui, an associate professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University’s School of Astronautics, said a country could potentially force an adversary to alter its trajectory, delay a mission, abandon a planned launch window or bear additional costs without directly using force.
He said competition in the space between Earth and the Moon would not necessarily centre on a particular spacecraft, orbit or route. Instead, the key issue would be the ability to access, control and use space while deterring an adversary, he said.
Cislunar space refers to the vast region between Earth and the Moon where the gravitational forces of both celestial bodies influence spacecraft trajectories.
Unlike satellites operating in relatively close Earth orbits, spacecraft in cislunar space can follow much more complex trajectories because they are affected by the gravitational pull of both Earth and the Moon.
