Can you intercept nuclear bomb, if so can you stop chain reaction and radiation ?I was inspired by other question I was answering.
2007-01-31 11:02:19 · 6 answers · asked by blazkiar 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The basic answer is no, it can't reliably be intercepted. In the 1980s the US funded SDI, whose purpose was to form a shield over the US by shooting down nuclear missiles. It was a failure, despite several announced "tests" which were rigged to succeed (most of which failed anyway).
The problem is it is too difficult and there is not enough time. The purpose of SDI was changed from protecting the US against nuclear attack to protecting against a single bomb from a "rogue state" (ie North Korea). Even the well publicized success of the Patriot missile in the Middle East turned out to have been exaggerated at best, and lied about at worst.
So, it is at best unlikely that a nuclear bomb would be intercepted. If it were, though, the news gets better. There is not that much radiation in a nuclear bomb. If it is blown up in space, some never returns to earth, and the rest gets scattered across a huge area. Probably scientists would be able to measure the radiation, but it would not be much more than background radiation. So that part at least is good.
One of the reason SDI got shelved is that even if it is developed to the point where it could work, it is so easy to overcome it with fake missiles, releasing aluminum foil, or such.
Also, it was realized that "rogue states" probably would not use missiles to deliver nuclear bomgs, since that requires high tech and makes it easy to trace where they come from. Instead, it is much more likely they would smuggle them in in shipping containers or some such thing, so interception becomes irrelevent.
2007-01-31 11:26:11 · answer #1 · answered by sofarsogood 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The program to intercept missiles in the US (strategic defense initiative or star wars) has had some successful tests, but is far from a sure thing in case or a real attack by even a single missile. Whether or not the nuclear warhead would detonate if the missile were intercepted depends on the programing in the warhead, so is not determined by the interceptor. If the warhead detonates there is no way to stop the radiation but one would hope it would not be near a populated area.
2007-01-31 19:21:54 · answer #2 · answered by meg 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Other countries do not have the technology,
However, if someone launched at the US, we can destroy it before it is actually detonated so there will be minimal radiation, if any.
2007-01-31 19:09:56 · answer #3 · answered by Sparky 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If a nuclear bomb was launched it would blow the whole planet up.
2007-01-31 19:07:07 · answer #4 · answered by Oksarun 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Chinese spy satelites have recently been shot down by them with tech. Clinton sold them. Our nukes might now be useless.
2007-01-31 19:12:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Duck and cover, dude, it's all over.
2007-01-31 19:10:31 · answer #6 · answered by Kilroy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋