China Expands Orbital Surveillance and Military Space Power in 2026 to Counter the US
Despite China’s expanding space capabilities, the United States retains key advantages in innovation, resilience, and commercial integration.
A Long March 5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 mission lunar probe, at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern Hainan Province, China, on May 3, 2024. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
China is accelerating its space program in 2026 with record launch rates, massive megaconstellation deployments, and specialized surveillance satellites, signaling a deliberate push to expand military space capabilities and challenge U.S. dominance in orbit.
Antonio Graceffo
Author
Antonio Graceffo, Ph.D., is a China economy analyst who has spent more than 20 years in Asia. Graceffo is a graduate of the Shanghai University of Sport, holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and studied national security at American Military University.
