A grotesque cartoon kid in a red uniform is jolted by electric bolts, with hair standing on end and a glowing skeleton visible through the body. An orbital laser cannon is fused to the kid’s shoulders, aimed at a tiny satellite above Earth.

Laser Li

U.S. Intelligence Warns China Could Soon Threaten Satellites With Space-Based Lasers

Published October 28, 2026

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A pint-sized space-weapons operator gets a shocking preview of the orbital arms race as U.S. intelligence warns that China may field directed-energy weapons in space by the late 2020s. The satellite-zapping satire turns a serious counterspace concern into an overcharged trading-card gag.

The Real Story

U.S. intelligence officials warn that China is expanding its counterspace capabilities and could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by the late 2020s. Such weapons could threaten or disrupt satellites, which are important for communications, navigation, and military operations. The Defense Intelligence Agency has also highlighted China’s rapid space expansion, including a satellite fleet that has tripled since 2018. The warnings place China’s developments within broader concerns about growing Chinese and Russian threats to space security.

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