60 Minutes Looks At U.S. Space Command

60 Minutes, CBS: The Battle Above

U.S. and China are locked in a high stakes contest over satellites that are critical to national security and everyday life

The following is a script from "The Battle Above" which aired on April 26, 2015. David Martin is the correspondent. Andy Court, producer.

Without most of us noticing, our everyday activities -- everything from getting cash at an ATM to watching this program -- depend on satellites in space. And for the U.S. military, it's not just everyday activities. The way it fights depends on space. Satellites are used to communicate with troops, gather intelligence, fly drones and target weapons. But top military and intelligence leaders are now worried those satellites are vulnerable to attack. They say China, in particular, has been actively testing anti-satellite weapons that could, in effect, knock out America's eyes and ears.

WNU Editor: Watched it last night .... it is a good summary on U.S. Space Command.