Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral Spaceport is set to receive laser weapons designed to shoot down drones, according to reporting by The War Zone. The deployment would give the Florida launch site a directed-energy defense against unauthorized unmanned aircraft that could threaten rockets, satellites and other sensitive hardware during launch operations. Details on the specific systems, timing and which agencies will operate them have not been released, but the plan signals growing concern about drone threats to US space infrastructure.

Planet Labs has delivered its Pelican-12 spacecraft to Cape Canaveral in preparation for launch aboard SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. The delivery marks a key step toward integrating the high-resolution imaging satellite into the mission. The news highlights Planet's expanding Pelican fleet and the growing role of SpaceX's rideshare program in deploying Earth-observation satellites.

The US Space Force has added laser systems at Cape Canaveral following roughly 500 drone flights at Port Canaveral. The move is being read as a counter-drone security measure protecting launch operations and port infrastructure from unauthorized unmanned aircraft activity.