The US Space Force has awarded a contract worth up to $60 million to develop and deploy a space-based aircraft carrier, also known as the Orbital Carrier. This innovative system is designed to counter orbital threats by stationing space vehicles in orbit and enabling rapid responses to dangerous situations.
Unlike traditional launch systems, the Orbital Carrier would allow space vehicle operators to rapidly select deployment orbits on-demand, bypassing traditional constraints. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the US Space Force’s ability to maintain space superiority and protect its satellites from hostile attacks.
A demonstration of the Orbital Carrier is expected as early as next year, according to Gravitics, the company behind the project. The system’s CEO, Colin Doughan, described it as a “game-changer” that would enable rapid deployment of space vehicles in response to threats.
Source: https://newatlas.com/military/us-space-force-wants-space-based-aircraft-carrier