Related storiesWhy is it still so hard to make nuclear weapons?'The greatest unknown was how much energy would be released by the weapon': How scientists prepared for the Trinity nuclear testWhat stops nuclear weapons from accidentally detonating?For years, the idea of nuclear weapons in space sounded more like science fiction than a realistic threat. That changed Monday (Sept. 14), when U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland that the U.S. had deployed "on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action."While the officials have not said that these weapons are nuclear, the announcement...