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Shoebox-Sized 'Detector Satellites' Could Sniff Out a Nuclear Bomb In Space
A new study proposes using shoebox-sized satellites to detect nuclear weapons in orbit. This addresses concerns about space-based nuclear detonations destroying satellites. MIT professor Areg Danagoulian suggests a constellation of small cubesats, each with a radiation detector. These satellites could identify unexploded nuclear bombs by sensing their unique radiation signatures. The study examines a scenario involving a Russian satellite at an altitude of 1,200 miles, an orbit previously linked to suspicions of orbital nuclear weapon testing. At this altitude, satellites pass through the Van Allen radiation belt, interacting with fissile material in a nuclear device. This interaction creates distinct signatures, like an intense neutron source, that Danagoulian's detectors could identify. The proposed sensor combines two types of detectors to filter out natural background particles and pinpoint the source of neutrons. These inspector satellites would need to get within a few kilometers of a suspicious spacecraft. Gathering enough data to confirm a nuclear weapon would take about a week per satellite. A constellation of ten satellites could achieve this confirmation in hours. If a nuke is detected, military options could include jamming its communication link. The study also touches upon improving satellite survivability in space through radiation hardening.