Russia has taken next step in putting a nuclear bomb into space

Russia has launched a satellite in low Earth orbit (1,200 miles or less) which the US fears is a test-bed for a future orbiting nuclear weapon platform. The suspicious spacecraft looks to be part of Russia’s plan to deploy an anti-satellite nuclear device, according to Mallory Stewart, US assistant secretary of state for arms control, deterrence and stability.The first disclosure that Russia was developing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon was confirmed by the White House in February. Moscow denied it. Stewart told a Washington think-tank that the planned weapon would not be used “to attack humans or cause structural damage on Earth”. “Instead, our analysts assess that detonation [of a nuclear weapon] in orbit would render lower Earth orbit unusable for a certain amount of time,” she said This region of space covering 100 to 1,200 miles above the Earth, is crucial for thousands of US military, civilian and commercial satellites. It could literally shut down this region of space and screw up communications for everyone. No wonder the Americans are desperately trying to dissuade Moscow from considering such a weapon which would be a blatant breach of international agreements on the use or misuse of space.