A new laboratory focused on simulating conflict in space will help deter and plan for war in orbit. 

Gen. Stephen Whiting, the leader of Space Command, announced Tuesday that the new Capability Assessment and Validation Environment has achieved minimum viable capability.

The environment is a new “modeling and simulation laboratory” that will help plan for a war the command hopes to avoid, he said. But new investment is critical because both Russia and China have ramped up their investments in space. 

China has more then tripled on orbit intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance satellites since 2018, he said.

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“Frankly, China is moving at a breathtaking speed,” he said.

Colorado Springs-based Space Command is charged with defending the area 100 kilometers above the Earth and its goal is to avoid conflict through deterrence. The Space Force is fielding hundreds of new satellites to ensure that if a single satellite was targeted, services could still be maintained. The goal is to make return on investment in a space attack less appealing. 

“Direct space combat would be economically and environmentally devastating perhaps for decades,” Whiting said. 

The command is also charged with providing supporting support services across the Department of Defense, such as communications.

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To help protect critical space services, Whiting also announced Tuesday that the U.S. was inviting additional nations to join a multinational effort to enhance resilience in space, among other goals, called Operation Olympic Defender.

The U.S., Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom are the current partners in Operation Olympic Defender. Whiting said the U.S. has invited Germany, France and New Zealand to join the work that includes sharing intelligence and planning together.

“Space is a team sport,” he said.

Commercial industry is also an important partner, and Space Command has embedded cyber experts in the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center in Colorado Springs, he said.

The center opened last year and is focused on sharing information about threats in space, such as satellites that can listen in on others, The Gazette reported previously.