Given the ever expanding threat of nuclear proliferation, the U.S. needs to be prepared to defend on all fronts, including protecting satellites. Developing wide-ranging protection should be a top priority. An anonymous defense official said, “It’s really the only way to defend the U.S. and its allies from anywhere on the planet.”

According to the Times, 27 countries have missile defenses, and more than 120 have fired ballistic missiles.

Space-based missile defenses were considered during George H.W. Bush’s administration in response to Soviet missiles, but Bill Clinton’s administration canceled space-based missile defense work to focus on short-range missiles.