Hijacked satellites and orbiting space weapons: In the 21st century, space is the new battlefield

Outer space has emerged as the world’s next battlefield, demonstrated by recent cyberattacks on satellites blamed on Russia. National security officials have said the Kremlin also is seeking to develop a space-based weapon that could knock out American satellites, potentially devastating the U.S. economy while leaving the country vulnerable to military attack. Officials in Washington are taking notice, investing in greater efforts to defend U.S. satellites while countering threats from China and Russia. One example is the U.S. Space Force created in 2019 and tasked with protecting American interests in space.