We will, of course, respond to this threat in space to maintain our space edge.
But just in case, we will have a fallback position to maintain our communications:
The U.S. has successfully tested a high-altitude UAV (Zephyr) that can stay in the air for long periods, powered by solar panels on the 60 foot wing span. During the day, the solar energy powers the aircraft's two propellers, and charges a battery. At night, the battery provides all the power needed. Also called the HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) aircraft, the UAV recently broke an endurance record by staying in the air for 54 hours. Zephyr is basically a powered glider. The ultimate goal is to have the Zephyr fly for months at a time, at high altitude (over 50,000 feet, way above the weather). Built of lightweight materials, the UAV weighs 66 pounds. The most likely job for Zephyr would be for communications relay, substituting for a communications satellite.
So we could launch these in the western Pacific and defend them with Raptors out of Guam and Japan to support military operations near China. China may have been able to toss an antique rocket into low orbit and detonate it, but does anybody think their air force could penetrate our air defenses to shoot down Zephyr?
The dance continues.
