The Cold War between the United States and Russia has dragged on for decades. However, after Soviet Russia crumbled and lost its influence in world politics, the term Cold War became obsolete. However, it has been proved once again that Russia has not lagged behind in the arms race and is still at the level of giving jitters to the US. Republican Senator Mike Turner, the chairman of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, has said that Russia is trying to send a nuclear weapon into space. This is being discussed at length.
What are the three assumptions of Russia?
Republican Senator Mike Turner, the chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee, has said that Russia is trying to send a nuclear weapon into space. Turner suggested that the government should inform the people of the country about the danger to America and also warn the allies. US President Joe Biden has responded. "There is no nuclear threat to the American people and there is no threat to the world from Russia." However, the media said that Russia intends to make the nuclear weapon not for targets on Earth, but to be launched on satellites in space.
However, if the nuclear weapon is in space, there is also an argument that it can be launched anywhere along with the targets on the ground. At the moment, there is no clarity on whether Russia will launch a nuclear weapon. There are three assumptions. First - Put a nuclear weapon into orbit and launch it from there when needed. Second – avail a nuclear-powered satellite. It may not be a bomb itself, but its devices are powered by nuclear energy. Third is, to avail nuclear weapons to destroy satellites. It is placed on the ground and used when needed.
The United States did tests in 1962
The powerful waves that are emitted when a nuclear bomb explodes incinerate everything. If it was so bad on Earth, what would happen if a nuclear explosion took place in a vacuum filled with no atmosphere,? Here's one example of that. In 1962, the United States conducted the test at an altitude of 400 km over the Pacific Ocean. They detonated around 1.4 megaton nuclear bomb.
The radiation emitted from it was affected not only on nearby satellites; it also affected satellites on the other side of the Earth. As a result, one-third of the satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) were damaged. Most of the satellites of many countries, especially military satellites, are in this orbit. At present, about 8,300 satellites are operating in LEO. If any nuclear explosions happen around there, Satellites of the US, Russia, China and India will be destroyed. The International Space Station is also affected.
Russia’s target is Geosynchronous Orbit
There are claims that Russia can launch its nuclear weapon in the Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) above 36,000 km. There are several US military communications and surveillance satellites in orbit. So, the Russian target could be GEO, says Matthew Bunn of Harvard University. Another claim is that Russia will send a nuclear-powered satellite into space to continue electronic warfare. The United States and Russia already have ground-based systems for electronic warfare against satellites in space. But if such a system is sent into space, it will be able to attack enemy satellites from very close. Why Russia does need to run these satellites on nuclear power? Nuclear energy is used to generate electricity. If more electricity is available, more powerful radar jammers can be installed on their satellites. This is the motto of Russia.
Meanwhile, the United States put a nuclear reactor in orbit in 1965. But, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the use of space for armed conflict. Also, the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty prohibits the testing and firing of weapons in space. Both agreements were signed by Russia. However, to make a space nuclear weapon would be to violate them. At present, willingly it is planning to send a nuclear weapon into space to counter the United States.
War with Ukraine is the reason!
Connecting hundreds of satellites to attack and spy on the enemy is now a new war strategy. The U.S. military has shown interest in this kind of war strategy recently. The Ukrainian military also conducted such operations during the ongoing war with Russia.
As Russia is at war with Ukraine, it is planning to capture satellite technology. James Acton, an expert at the Carnegie Endowment for the Arts, said Russia may be developing the nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, Russia has denied the speculations about its nuclear operations. It alleged that the United States was spreading rumours against it. Moscow also accused the US of staging the drama in order to funnel more funds to Ukraine against it.
