A growing number of countries, led by the United States, China and South Korea, are testing a variety of space drone models.  Some are specifically configured and equipped to operate in the so-called stratosphere, some 20-30 miles above the Earth’s surface, functioning less as aircraft than as satellites orbiting the Earth for months and perhaps even years at a time.  Others are for deep space exploration, with the moon and even Mars as their destination.  Still others are focused on what is known as near space, an altitude level aerospace experts have traditionally considered a  “dead zone” because of the difficulty most aircraft encounter in this zone just generating enough lift to stay airborne.

The three countries, for reasons that remain unclear, seem to be prioritizing one area of space over the other two.  South Korea, for example, seems to be focused primarily on exploring the stratosphere.  In February 2021, Seoul conducted its first successful test operating at that level with a solar-powered space drone.  The drone flew uninterrupted for more than 53 hours, and returned safely without incident.  The government quickly declared the test a success. Government officials say they want to create joint partnerships with industry to turn their country into a “space powerhouse.”  While officially for commercial use, Seoul is developing its new space drones in tandem with its ambitious space rocket and missile development program, with an eye toward keeping its long-time adversary to the North at bay.

China, anxious to preserve its overall drone supremacy, is also fast-tracking its space program, but the clear priority, it seems, is near space.  Defense experts say Beijing is anxious to establish its supremacy in this area to give China a unique strategic advantage.  Because most advanced militaries increasingly rely on satellites for everything from intelligence to communications to missile guidance, they have become high-priority targets during wartime, and are difficult to defend.  But near space vehicles can gather intelligence, relay data, and if need be, serve as replacement satellites without being exposed to anti-satellite warfare. And they can fly low enough to break through air defense, gather intelligence and launch missile attacks on enemy ground forces in the event of more localized hostilities.

The United States, meanwhile, seems to have prioritized deep space exploration. Last September, NASA successfully landed the Perseverance rover on Mars – a truly historic feat.  The Mars test also gave NASA an opportunity to test its new space helicopter known as Ingenuity.  Despite the planet’s thinner atmosphere, the unmanned craft flew across Mars without incident, whereupon NASA Jet decided to extend the chopper’s test flights for another full month. Brian Pitre, a senior member of the Forbes Technology Council, has rightly called the Mars landing and expedition, which received surprisingly little US media coverage a “Wright Brothers moment.”

These early forays into space are just the beginning, of course.  With limited funding, it could be that each of the three countries will continue to specialize in their respective areas.  But the constant pressure to innovate in the context of escalating superpower rivalry and tension will inevitably push all three to accelerate their efforts across the board.  China says it wants all of its new drones, including a fleet of next-generation attack drones it displayed publicly for the first time last September, ready to be deployed by 2035.  And South Korea has set 2025 as its target date for full-scale commercialization of its own next-generation drones.  Get ready:  The space race is on.

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