How the USA Missile Defense System Actually Works w/ Neil Degrasse Tyson

You might not know this—but the U.S. already has a missile defense system in place. 🛰️🛡️

From Greenland to the West Coast, advanced technology watches the skies for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Detected by satellite, these missiles can be intercepted mid-flight, long before reaching their targets.

But what exactly is a ballistic missile? Once launched, it exits the atmosphere and follows a suborbital arc guided only by gravity—that’s the true meaning of “ballistic.”

In this video, we break down the science, strategy, and physics behind this powerful yet misunderstood system of defense.