Earlier this month, SpaceX celebrated its 500th successful landing of a Falcon 9 first-stage booster during a routine mission that delivered 28 Starlink satellites into orbit. This achievement highlights SpaceX’s ability to reuse rockets efficiently through its advanced reusable rocket technology. Later this year, the company is expected to achieve another milestone: the 500th re-flight of a Falcon 9 first stage.
SpaceX Leads in Reusable Rocket Technology
Other US companies, including Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, and Stoke Space, are working to replicate or improve on SpaceX’s achievements in Reusable Rocket Technology. These companies are competing with Chinese rocket builders to become the second organization capable of safely landing and reusing a first-stage booster.
Despite these efforts, experts say it will likely take years—possibly a decade—before any company can match SpaceX’s scale and speed in Reusable Rocket Technology. This dominance gives the United States a strategic advantage in space, according to officials from the US Space Force.
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US intelligence officials note that China has conducted 56 orbital-class missions this year using 14 types of rockets, with no single rocket flying more than 11 times. In contrast, eight types of US rockets have flown a total of 142 times, with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 responsible for 120 of these launches. Without Reusable Rocket Technology, China must maintain a larger number of expendable rockets to keep up with launch rates, which are currently only one-third to one-half of those of the United States.
China Explores On-Orbit Refueling
China is testing alternative approaches to extend the usefulness of its satellites while waiting to master Reusable Rocket Technology. In July, Chinese satellites Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 completed a refueling operation in geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles above Earth. The operation involved SJ-25 refueling SJ-21, a satellite capable of docking with other spacecraft and moving them to new orbits.
While Chinese authorities claim this work focuses on space debris management, US intelligence officials have raised concerns that the technology could also enable China to take control of foreign satellites. Refueling satellites in space allows China to effectively reuse space assets, compensating for the country’s lower launch frequency compared to the United States.
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Officials say that on-orbit refueling gives China an alternative form of reuse in space, which could allow it to sustain capabilities until it adopts Reusable Rocket Technology.
China’s push for on-orbit refueling reflects a broader focus on advanced space technologies. The country’s recent experimental spacecraft, such as the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS) satellites, have been launched into geosynchronous orbit with unusual maneuvering capabilities. These satellites may be part of reconnaissance or communication intelligence operations, as their behavior differs from standard communications satellites.
Strategic Concerns over Chinese Satellite Programs
US officials highlight several other Chinese space initiatives that indicate a focus on advanced military applications. Earlier this month, China launched the Yaogan 45 satellite into an unusually high orbit for a remote-sensing satellite. Other satellites, such as Yaogan 41, have been positioned in geosynchronous orbit with telescopes capable of observing objects on the ground and at sea.
China is also deploying its first medium-Earth orbit (MEO) communication satellites under the Smart Skynet network. These satellites, combined with remote sensing assets, create layered capabilities that US officials find noteworthy.
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Meanwhile, the United States continues to leverage SpaceX’s Reusable Rocket Technology to support both commercial and national security programs. The Pentagon relies on Starlink satellites for global connectivity and uses the Starshield platform to deploy reconnaissance satellites for intelligence missions. Reusable Rocket Technology allows rapid, flexible, and cost-effective satellite launches, which is critical for programs like the planned Golden Dome missile defense system.
US intelligence officials have expressed concern about how quickly China could close the gap if it masters Reusable Rocket Technology. While China has observed US space operations and adapted its strategies accordingly, its current reliance on expendable rockets limits the speed and scale of satellite deployment.
