The expanse beyond Earth, a hard vacuum rich in hydrogen and helium.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has said the United States has placed "on-orbit space control weapons" to defend the Joint Force. He has not described what the systems are, when they were deployed or how many exist. The admission follows years of concern about Chinese and Russian counterspace capabilities and will reshape deterrence and stability in Earth orbit.
The United States is accelerating its space and lunar defense posture as officials announce on-orbit space control weapons and a doubling of the Space Force. Leaders say operations will defend US interests from low Earth orbit to cislunar space, signaling a shift in the military balance in space ahead of potential actions around the Moon.