Enrique Abeyta:

U.S. Acknowledges for the First Time That It Has Deployed Weapons in Space

The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, a remarkable revelation after previous warnings about countries such as Russia possibly weaponizing a global frontier long agreed in treaties to be used for only peaceful purposes.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told the Air and Space Cyber Conference in Maryland on Monday that the U.S. has fielded "on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action."

Meink did not detail what the weapons were, how they work or if they were targeting other objects in space or on Earth. The U.S. had warned two years ago that Russia was developing a new space-based, anti-satellite weapon, though the White House said the danger wasn't imminent at the time.

But reports of the anti-satellite weapon reflected longstanding worries about space threats from Russia and China, given that much U.S. infrastructure is dependent on satellite communications. The U.S. has also previously demonstrated its own abilities to shoot down satellites from Earth.

In his remarks, Meink also said the Air Force was adding more autonomous systems to its capabilities and predicted the service would look "radically different" by 2032. For example, he foresaw one-way attack drones replacing artillery as the "primary killer."

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Greg Guenthner:

Bitcoin Tumbles 4% to $75,000 As Hopes of CLARITY Act Passage This Year Fade

Bitcoin fell 4% to hover below $76,000 on Tuesday. The world's largest cryptocurrency lost ground ahead of a Fed decision this week, and as the CLARITY Act struggled to clear a cloture vote in the Senate.

Hopes of securing the 60 votes needed to proceed faded ahead of the afternoon vote as Republicans and Democrats remained divided over the latest version of the bill.

Polymarket bettors gave the bill a 5% chance of becoming law this year. Investors now fear it will be shelved until after the midterm elections and potentially pushed to 2029.

The crypto market has been closely following the bill aimed at establishing a comprehensive federal framework for digital asset markets.

Following a brutal sell-off late last year and into 2026, bitcoin has been showing signs of a bottoming. The token rallied 25% last month as the Treasury Department's recent intervention in the bond market and assistance to Japan helped lift the prices of gold and crypto assets.

Some of those gains were given back amid surging oil prices and rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will hike rates on Wednesday, with the market pricing in a 92% chance.

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Ray Blanco:

Rocket Lab Is Seeing Red About NASA's Decision on a Mars Spacecraft

In theory, developing a spacecraft that will fly to Mars, insert itself into orbit around the red planet, and relay transmissions back and forth to large satellite dishes on Earth is a relatively straightforward proposition.

NASA's procurement of a "Mars Telecommunications Network" spacecraft, however, has turned out to be one of the most engrossing dramas of the year for the U.S. space agency.

The agency finally reached a decision earlier this month, selecting Blue Origin to develop, launch, and operate a $700 million spacecraft at Mars. However, the main competitor for the award, Rocket Lab, was not happy – at all. On Friday, the company filed a protest of NASA's decision with the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

"NASA's award decision appears to be inconsistent with the eligibility criteria mandated by Congress," the company said on X. "In addition, the agency's punitive review of Rocket Lab's technical volume was inconsistent, making incorrect assertions and conclusions."

In response, Blue Origin said the protest could potentially delay the mission's goal of launching in 2028.

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