China's success in destroying the satellite by missile prompted me to ask this question.
2007-01-22 22:01:50 · 20 answers · asked by joseph m 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Wow. Lots and lots of bad answers here.
Nuclear explosions in space were conducted in the late 1950's and early 1960's before treaties banning such practices went into effect. Instead of the mushroom cloud, the explosion happens in a spherical shape. Most of the test explosions were in very near earth orbit and there was a significant effect of the radiation belts around the earth. There was also an electromagnetic pulse that disrupted electronics for quite some distance around.
These experiments (along with above-ground testing) were stopped because of fears of increased radiation levels and the expansion of the arms race into space.
2007-01-22 23:39:46 · answer #1 · answered by mathematician 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible to test in space, assuming you can get the conventional explosives that set off the chain reaction in the nuclear bomb to go off with say a reserve of oxygen. The explosion should be rather unimpressive though, with no oxygen around the detonation would be nothing more than radioactive particles smashing into each other and generating a hell of a lot heat. So unless you can see atomic particles zooming around, you wouldn't see too much... except for perhaps the small amounts of light generated by certain fission reactions.
2007-01-22 23:20:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In space...but where? Just outside the Earth's atmosphere? If yes, it would be dangerous for the earth due to the Atomic Cloud, which would not easily dissipate due to vacuum. Now, this cloud is so dense that would prevent the majority of sun light falling on the earth. It would destroy the climate on the earth. Plants cannot grow in absence of the sun light and it would damage the Oxygen cycle. No vaporisation of the ocean's water may lead destroying the cloud formation and hence no rain. If it was safer to explode the nuke bomb in the outer space, many countries would have done that so far. CTBT - Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty prevent countries testing Nuke Bombs on the Earth..not in the outer space.
2007-01-22 22:43:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
As responded, been completed. As for transporting radioactive fabric, how do you think of a few probes are powered? Apollo 13 had to be careful on its return so as that the LM hit the sea at certainly one of its inner maximum aspects because of the fact of an test it had.
2016-11-26 20:41:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had that happen when I was with a squadren of other space pilots there commanders on earth got piss at them for some reason and sent some minute man missles after us we pick them up on radar I forgot about it then they started to exploded and wipe out these space crafts it was kind of frighting for a bit . you get some smoke but no mushroom cloud.
2007-01-23 06:44:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure what you are exactly asking.
It will explode in space. The bomb doesnt' require oxygen, so thats not a problem.
As long as its out of our atmosphere, no problems. If its closer in...it could damage satellites.
I personally have always wanted them to send a nuke to jupiter.......just to see what would happen.....probably the devestation would be toooo tiny for us to even notice.
2007-01-22 22:16:59 · answer #6 · answered by My name is not bruce 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it can happen but it will be impossible to measure its effects inside the atmosphere where it would be useful as a weapon. So the only thing you could test would be the operational ability of the bomb.
2007-01-22 22:38:48 · answer #7 · answered by Sporadic 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are so many nuclear bombs also processing in space (in star).But they are far away from earth so we could see the ligth only.so i think nothing will happen if an atom bomb is tested far away from earth.
2007-01-23 04:29:21 · answer #8 · answered by saravanan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, im just a sophomore in high school haha, but i don't see why we couldn't..
i mean it doesn't require any outside force, other than the atom bomb itself.
and since it isn't hitting an object and forcing the explosion in any direction, i am pretty sure it would explode in every direction. causing, of course, a spherical explosion.
2007-01-23 18:00:49 · answer #9 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that happens then lots more will realise that things are going
in-the-right direction. That is, the further away the testing is
done, the better. For all.
2007-01-22 22:07:07 · answer #10 · answered by peter m 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋