The US air force admitted to deploying weapons in space. Don’t expect the White House to explain why

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/richardluscombe· Sep 19, 2026 · 11:00 AM UTC ·8 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 5 views

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▪Troy Meink, secretary of the air force, speaks as JD Vance listens at the US Air Force Academy graduation on 28 May 2026 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
▪Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenTroy Meink, secretary of the air force, speaks as JD Vance listens at the US Air Force Academy graduation on 28 May 2026 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
▪Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesSpaceAnalysisThe US air force admitted to deploying weapons in space.

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Canonical URL	https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/sep/19/space-weapons-white-house-nasa
Publication time	Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:00:45 GMT
Retrieval time	2026-09-19T11:13:46.541Z
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Troy Meink, secretary of the air force, speaks as JD Vance listens at the US Air Force Academy graduation on 28 May 2026 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenTroy Meink, secretary of the air force, speaks as JD Vance listens at the US Air Force Academy graduation on 28 May 2026 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesSpaceAnalysisThe US air force admitted to deploying weapons in space. Don’t expect the White House to explain whyRichard LuscombeThe revelation ‘left experts scratching their heads at exactly what Donald Trump has in his cosmic arsenal’Sat 19 Sep 2026 07.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 19 Sep 2026 07.01 EDTShareIn Hollywood at least, space weapons are a relatively simple concept.

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