While the United States has enjoyed an historic advantage in space and the USAF has enjoyed the luxury of operating relatively unimpeded in this medium, the nation has become vulnerable to threats that could damage or disable its vital satellite constellations. The author examines the threat to satellites posed by ground-based directed energy weapons and the state of satellite-related nanotechnology research and development to demonstrate the applicability for mitigating this type of threat. USAF leaders need to make continued research and development into nanotechnology for satellite applications an investment priority. This will require a long and expensive commitment, only some of which will pay off. But continued investment is necessary if the USAF and the nation are to maintain their supremacy of space.