Pentagon confirms US weapons deployed in space in major revelation Peter Doocy reports on the Pentagon’s public confirmation of US space weapons. Former NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore joins to discuss the growing space arms race. Wilmore discusses the strategic importance of controlling the exoatmosphere and explains the challenges of kinetic and non-kinetic weaponry as Russia and China expand their space capabilities. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Space is increasingly populated and I’m not talking about astronauts. Thousands of pieces of garbage are spinning around the Earth at incredible speeds. Some are dead satellites. Others are rocket debris or fragments from past collisions. Any of them could cause serious problems if they collide with a functioning spacecraft. Now Britain has a rather far-fetched solution. He is developing a robotic spacecraft with giant claws that can grab dead satellites and move them toward a fiery end in Earth’s atmosphere. Think of a garbage truck in orbit, except it has to track its garbage while both objects travel at thousands of miles per hour. The United Kingdom is contributing approximately $81 million to the project. And if all goes as planned, the mission could change the way we deal with the growing mess above our heads. Join our next CyberGuy LIVE class: 5 Ways to Travel Smarter and Save Money In this free live online class, Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson will share five practical ways to protect your trip and your wallet this holiday travel season. You’ll learn how to protect your phone and personal information, find better travel deals, avoid common scams, save money on reservations, and use technology to make your trips easier and less stressful. No technical experience necessary. Join us on Saturday, October 31 at 11am ET / 8am PT. Sign up for free now at CyberGuyLive.com. WILL A FOUR-ARMED ROBOT REPLACE ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE? ClearSpace’s robotic capture technology could help remove derelict satellites before they collide with functioning spacecraft. (ClearSpace)Britain’s $81 million plan to clean up spaceThe UK Space Agency has selected aerospace company ClearSpace UK to develop a spacecraft specifically designed to remove dead satellites from orbit. The contract is valued at approximately $81 million. The project is part of the British Active Debris Removal mission, known as UK ADR. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2029 from the SaxaVord spaceport in Scotland’s Shetland Islands. Its first job will be to remove two missing satellites registered in the United Kingdom from low Earth orbit. The government wants both satellites to be removed by 2032. If successful, the mission would demonstrate that a spacecraft can capture and remove multiple dead satellites without being sacrificed after its first cleanup. That could make future operations much more practical, especially as the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow. How giant robotic claws will grab dead satellites Grabbing a satellite seems simple until you consider what’s happening in orbit. Objects in low Earth orbit typically travel at approximately 17,000 mph or faster. Some dead satellites may also fall, making their safe approach difficult. That’s where ClearSpace’s robotic technology comes into play. The spacecraft will use a specialized capture system to approach and secure a dormant satellite. First of all, you must carefully coordinate your movements with the target. Then, its robotic capture mechanism will seize the object. Once the satellite is secured, the spacecraft will move it to a lower orbit and release it. Atmospheric drag will eventually drag the abandoned satellite downward, causing it to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, where it is expected to burn up. The cleanup spacecraft itself is being designed for possible refueling and reuse. That means it could remain in orbit for future work rather than ending its mission after ditching a satellite. Of course, engineers still have to prove that the technology can handle these demanding operations safely. Why Space Junk Is Becoming a Serious Problem You might assume there’s plenty of room in space for a few damaged satellites. Unfortunately, some of the orbital regions where satellites operate are increasingly populated. According to the European Space Agency’s space debris statistics, updated on October 14, 2026, approximately 47,140 objects are regularly tracked in Earth’s orbit. That figure includes working satellites, inactive spacecraft, rocket bodies and debris. And those are only the objects large enough to reliably track. ESA estimates that millions of smaller pieces also surround the Earth. The danger comes from their enormous speeds. A piece of debris measuring just one centimeter can carry enough energy to disable a spacecraft. The ESA has also warned that an impact of that size could penetrate the protective shield of the International Space Station. Let us now consider what happens when two large objects collide. They can break apart and produce many additional fragments, each capable of damaging something else. Scientists call this possible chain reaction Kessler syndrome. If enough collisions occur, certain orbital regions could become extremely dangerous for future missions. ESA’s Space Environment Report 2026 warns that active debris removal will be necessary to prevent long-term debris growth driven by collisions. ((European Space Agency (ESA))Space debris also threatens astronautsThe danger extends beyond expensive satellites. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station face risks from debris traveling through orbit. In November 2021, crew members took shelter inside their spacecraft after a Russian test of anti-satellite weapons created a dangerous cloud of debris. NASA confirmed that astronauts and cosmonauts closed the hatches and took shelter inside the docked Dragon and Soyuz spacecraft while teams assessed the station and crew. Fortunately, the incident demonstrated how quickly debris from a satellite’s disintegration can disrupt operations in orbit. Space debris eventually returns to Earth, and certain components can survive the intense heat of re-entry into the atmosphere. Most smaller debris burns up, however, larger objects and components made of heat-resistant materials can sometimes reach the ground as rocket launches increase, researchers are paying more attention to this danger. Space environmentalist Ewan Wright of the University of British Columbia told Space.com that approximately 124 rocket stages reentered Earth’s atmosphere without space debris. control in 2024. Over a decade, there would be a 33% chance that at least one person somewhere in the world will be killed by falling rocket debris. That estimate describes a cumulative global risk from rocket stages, rather than the danger posed by Britain’s two satellite disposal targets. The bottom line here is that removing debris from orbit requires careful planning. The planned refueling capability is particularly interesting. Instead of launching a new cleanup vehicle for each job, companies are now developing spacecraft capable of approaching other satellites and sending it after more debris. However, its long-term commercial potential will likely depend on whether the technology works as expected. Don’t spend too much time thinking about abandoned satellites while checking the weather or following GPS instructions, but the technology operating above Earth plays a huge role in everyday life. Replacing a damaged satellite can also be costly. Britain’s robotic cleanup mission will not eliminate the problem. space junk overnight, but successfully removing two derelict satellites could help establish a practical way to deal with dangerous objects already in orbit, and with thousands of additional satellites being launched, finding a reliable way to safely remove them could become increasingly important. Kurt’s Key Takeaways I must admit that the idea of a spacecraft chasing dead satellites with giant robotic claws sounds like something Hollywood dreamed up. But I find the technology fascinating, especially considering how much we depend on it. satellites without a second thought. What really caught my attention is the possibility of reusing the cleanup spacecraft. That could make space junk removal a routine service instead of an occasional experiment. Launching more satellites each year and cleaning up two abandoned spacecraft seems like a small start. Earth’s orbit? Find out by writing to us at Cyberguy.com Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy newsletter Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox For real, simple ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com, trusted by millions of people who watch CyberGuy on TV every day. scams. Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com All rights reserved. “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning technology journalist with a deep love for technology, gear and gadgets that improve lives with his contributions to Fox News and FOX Business starting in the mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Get a tech question from Kurt, share your voice, a story idea or a comment on CyberGuy.com.
