According to a US Defence Department official, low-Earth orbit satellites may suffer grave effects from Russia’s alleged anti-satellite weapon.
According to John Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy, experts think that if the alleged Russian weapon detonates in space, it might make low-Earth orbit “unusable” for satellites because it would emit an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Comparing the 1962 US military test Starfish Prime to this one, Plumb emphasises the destabilising effects of this kind of explosion by citing the incident in which six satellites in orbit were impacted.
While acknowledging the need for further analysis, Plumb talks about the vulnerability of most satellites, which are not fortified against a nuclear detonation in space. He explains that some satellites would be directly impacted by the blast, while others would suffer damage over time as they pass through radiation belts created by the nuclear explosion.
Plumb’s statements raise questions about the danger to constellations of satellites like SpaceX’s Starlink, which presently consists of around 6,000 spacecraft. The latest announcement from the White House regarding Russia’s development of a nuclear-carrying satellite has increased concerns about space security.
Plumb highlights the indiscriminate nature of Russia’s anti-satellite weapon and its potential worldwide repercussions, even if he maintains that the immediate risk posed by it is not imminent.
It is even more urgent to handle this growing threat in light of the United Nations’ rejection of a US-Japan proposal to outlaw the deployment of nuclear weapons in space.
