The United States Space Force has sent a weapon into Earth's orbit for the first time to defend against "hostile" actions. This military branch, established in 2019 by order of Donald Trump, is responsible for conducting military operations outside of Earth's atmosphere and protecting U.S. satellites from potential threats.
Space Force Announcement
Frank Kendall, the Secretary of the Air Force, announced at a conference on Monday that this force has sent a weapon into Earth's orbit. It is still unclear what type of weapon it is and what it is defending against, but this is the first time the United States has publicly stated that a "space weapon" is operational.
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Space Control
The Space Force stated in a release: "Space control includes mission areas essential for competition and control of the space domain - using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation, and even destruction, if necessary." These capabilities can be employed for both offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of military commands.
In April, Trump claimed that the United States Space Force is monitoring Iran. He wrote: "This country is now under close satellite surveillance (Space Force!). Since the date of the attack, nothing has been touched. We are negotiating subsidies and easing sanctions with Iran." The monitoring issue Trump referred to is unclear, but it likely relates to monitoring former Iranian nuclear sites he claimed to have destroyed last summer.
The Trump administration also showcased a plan to establish a new space command in Huntsville, Alabama, which he dubbed "Rocket City." Alabama and Colorado have long competed for the space command and the jobs it would bring, after Joe Biden decided to keep a temporary headquarters in Colorado.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States is losing the space race to China and Russia. He stated: "This decision will create over 30,000 jobs in Alabama and probably more than that." He also added: "Most importantly, this decision will help America defend and dominate in high-altitude borders."
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