Pulse #013: Laser Weapons to Watch Over US Space Launches

“We’re also bringing on a directed energy system that can do a kinetic kill against [drones] that are coming into the area.”

A Falcon 9 rocket successfully launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Sept. 13, 2026. (US Space Force/Gwendolyn Kurzen)

Welcome to Pulse, a regular digest of updates from around the directed energy ecosystem. In this week’s edition: the Space Force eyes laser weapons to counter drone threats at launch sites, the Pentagon considers directed energy’s power bottleneck, the Netherlands and Australia’s EOS team up, and more.