The militarization of space continues to heat up as the US government accused Russia of launching a space weapon that is capable of attacking other satellites in orbit.
Counter Space Weapon
On May 21, the Pentagon confirmed during a press briefing that Russia has recently launched a mysterious orbital weapon into the same path as a US government satellite. The news was revealed by Major General Pat Ryder after US Ambassador Robert Wood made the initial allegation to the UN on May 20.
On May 16, the Kremlin deployed a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. It was placed into low Earth orbit at nearly the same path as the American reconnaissance satellite. Assessment of the rocket indicates characteristics that resemble previously deployed counter-space payloads from 2019 and 2022.
The statement also came after the US and Russia drafted rival resolutions in an attempt to outlaw space weapons. The draft focused on various types of weapons. While the US and Japan specified weapons of mass destruction, the Russian draft discussed all types of weapons.
Members of the UN Security Council condemned the actions even without passing a measure against it. Meanwhile, Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, denied the accusations that his nation was trying to mislead the world.
Council members noted that every nation wants the weapons to be removed from space. Ryder also said that the US remains vigilant at what appears to be the Kremlin's attempt to weaponize space.
In February, US lawmakers first issued a warning that Russia was creating a nuclear anti-satellite, also known as a nuclear EMP. However, satellites are not designed to survive the radiation from a nuclear explosion. Some can be destroyed by the blast and can have devastating effects on the capabilities of the US and other countries in space.
Dangers of EMP Weapon
A nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) refers to a burst of electromagnetic radiation formed by a nuclear explosion. It results in rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields which may produce damaging current and voltage surges.
Electromagnetic bombs and high-altitude nuclear detonations can generate EMP with the potential to destroy or damage electronic damages over wide areas. Electric power systems are also at risk from surges produced by such weapons.
EMP itself is not radioactive since it is just a pulse of energy produced as a side effect of nuclear detonation. While it has no known effect on living creatures, it can temporarily or permanently disable electronic equipment here on Earth.
When an EMP weapon is "detonated," it can create a pulse of energy which produces a powerful electromagnetic field capable of causing short-circuit on computers, radios, satellites, radar receivers, and civilian traffic lights. Since EMP travels at the speed of light, all of the vulnerable electronic equipment within the detonation zone can be simultaneously affected.
Other notable collectors of EMP include large antennas, cables, metal fencing, railroad tracks, pipes, and building wires. Meanwhile, underground materials are partially protected by the ground, but they are still collected, which can deliver the EMP energy to larger facilities.
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