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Major General Michael Traut warned of catastrophic consequences if a nuclear weapon were detonated in orbit, rendering the global commons unusable.
There are concerns regarding the economic fallout and national security implications of such developments, with calls for transparency and action from various political leaders.
“If somebody dares to explode a nuclear weapon in high atmosphere or even space, this would be more or less the end of the usability of that global commons [of orbit],” Traut said.
“Nobody would survive an action like that – no satellite, either Chinese or Russian and American or European,” he said. “If somebody calculates rationally, nobody would employ such a weapon in space.”
Despite differing opinions on the nature of the weapon being developed, the White House confirmed it violates the Outer Space Treaty.
“Though Russia’s pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety,” White House adviser John Kirby said. “We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth.”
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