this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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52
MIT researcher proposes a way to detect nuclear weapons in space (news.mit.edu)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by beep@piefed.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1251255/mit-researcher-proposes-a-way-to-detect-nuclear-weapons-in-space

A nuclear detonation in low-Earth orbit — the region about 100 miles to 1,200 miles above Earth’s surface — would release trillions of highly energetic electrons that would destroy many of the satellites in space, disrupting telecommunications networks, GPS, space-based internet, and more

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[–] mrbn@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Danagoulian describes his idea for a satellite-based sensor system that could orbit close by a suspect satellite and detect neutrons generated by high-energy protons colliding with radioactive material.

Ok, but don't RTGs (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) also emit neutrons? How would the sensor system tell the difference between a warhead and a generator?

[–] sunnie@slrpnk.net 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

RTGs aren’t used for power in earth orbit, because of the danger of releasing the radioactive contents on deorbit and because there’s enough sunlight here to make solar a much better option (lighter, cheaper).

RTGs are mostly used for the outer solar system where the sun is too dim to be useful.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

"The world's first commercial nuclear-powered satellite, the BOHR CubeSat, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 7, 2026."

I think this one used a betavoltaic battery which may be safer but I haven't spent a lot of time researching it.

[–] ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago

I'm pretty sure it uses a combination of solar and betavoltaic's tritium battery