Nature study identifies a new way to spot nuclear weapons in orbit
A recent study published in *Nature Astronomy* has introduced a groundbreaking satellite design aimed at detecting thermonuclear warheads in orbit. This research, partially funded by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, marks the first peer-reviewed proposal for identifying nuclear weapons in space. Current satellites lack the capability to detect such weapons, complicating the verification of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits nuclear arms in orbit. The study comes in light of allegations that Russia has been testing a military satellite potentially designed for anti-satellite nuclear capabilities. The research, led by MIT nuclear physicist Areg Danagoulian, suggests utilizing radiation trapped in Earth's inner magnetosphere to identify fissile materials in warheads. The inner Van Allen radiation belt, a zone rich in energetic protons, could trap radiation from a nuclear detonation, potentially damaging nearby satellites. Danagoulian's proposed satellite, a 9U CubeSat equipped with a neutron detector, could identify a thermonuclear signature within a week if positioned 4 kilometers away from a suspected warhead. While the technique shows promise, experts emphasize that it is not a comprehensive solution for all orbital scenarios. The study opens avenues for cooperative treaty verification, suggesting that mutual agreement on inspections could mitigate tensions between nations. Future efforts will focus on validating the proposed methods and exploring the ability to distinguish between nuclear weapons and propulsion systems, a critical aspect for policy discussions in the realm of space security.
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