Is it possible to use nuclear weapons in space? Recently, Russia seemed to take a step towards this idea. Despite a United Nations resolution supported by the United States and Japan, Japan vetoed a plan to prevent the development and deployment of nuclear weapons beyond Earth.
Thankfully, the country never actually threatened to send such a device into space, which would violate regulations outlined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Russia’s UN envoy criticized the new resolution as a “cynical ploy,” claiming they were being misled.
But what would happen if Russia, or any other nation, detonated a nuclear weapon in space? The alarming reality is that such an explosion could be as devastating as a ground-based one. The consequences would be grave.
What would happen if a nuclear warhead is detonated in space?
There are significant differences between detonating a nuclear weapon on the ground compared to in orbit.
According to Dr. Michael Mulvihill, a researcher at Teesside University, when a nuclear weapon detonates on the ground, it releases a large amount of energy in the form of X-rays, superheating the atmosphere and causing explosive consequences. However, in space, where there is no atmosphere, detonating a nuclear weapon would not create a mushroom cloud or shockwave. Instead, the effects would be equally terrifying.
In space, nuclear explosions release vast amounts of energy, including X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, charged particles, and an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy that can disrupt radar systems, communications, and power systems.
After the initial explosion, a radiation belt forms around the Earth for months or even years, posing a threat to satellites and individuals in space, including astronauts on the ISS.
Space is becoming increasingly congested with satellites, further heightening the risk of nuclear energy being unleashed in space. The effects of a nuclear explosion in space could be catastrophic.
Has a nuclear explosion ever occurred in space?
During the Cold War, the United States and Russia conducted nuclear tests in various scenarios, including in space. The United States conducted five space nuclear tests, with the most famous being the Starfish Prime test in 1962, which had an explosive yield 100 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
The EMP from the Starfish Prime test unexpectedly affected Hawaii, damaging streetlights and telephone lines. The ensuing red aurora spread across the Pacific Ocean.
Although nuclear weapons were tested in space during the Cold War, the Outer Space Treaty was later established in 1967 to regulate space activities and ensure peaceful use of space for all countries.
How concerned should we be?
Reports of a potential national security threat involving Russia and nuclear weapons in space have surfaced. While these concerns are valid, Dr. Mulvihill emphasizes that Russia, as a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty, is bound by international laws prohibiting weapons in space.
Nuclear weapons in space are indiscriminate, causing damage to all nations, including the country deploying them. Mulvihill suggests that countries may develop nuclear-powered jamming devices to interfere with satellite communications without causing destruction.
Ultimately, the geopolitical posturing surrounding nuclear weapons in space may be a strategy of deterrence rather than an imminent threat. The world’s focus should remain on peaceful space exploration and cooperation.
About our expert
Michael Mulvihill is a Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow at Teesside University, studying nuclear deterrence and space technology. He is a member of various research groups and organizations related to international studies and space politics.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
