what happens if nuclear bomb is exploded in space?

Answer 1

The energy released would expand from the center outward spherically.

Answer 2

Not much. It produces an expanding shell of more or less relativistic particles and a rapidly cooling plasma cloud. A few miles away from the center of the explosion there will be little or no harm to anything that can survive the initial thermal and radiation load. Which is one reason why you don't hear much talk about nuclear warheads as space weapons. They are virtually useless.

Nukes are the most effective when exploded either underground in such a way that the amount of material blasted out of the crater is maximized or in an airblast that optimizes the atmospheric shock wave. What does most of the damage in either case is the displaced material or gas, not the nuclear explosion itself.

There is one application where the nuke is exploded above the earths atmosphere. The relativistic charged particles from the explosion will set of an electromagnetic shock wave of enormous magnitude which has the potential to destroy unhardened electronic and electrical devices over vast areas. Military devices are usually hardened to the point where this EMP does not kill them. They might be "blind" for milli-seconds to seconds, but can continue to operate after the blast. Civilian aviation, hospitals, power grids and communication networks would, however, be likely damaged beyond repair in case of EMP warfare. Which is why it will likely see application in the next nuclear war. A few dozen EMP bursts over enemy territory are a much cheaper business proposition than carpet bombing.

Finally, many charged particles from the blast will stay in earths radiation belts and hinder shortwave communications for weeks. But since few people will have working radios left, we probably won't care.

Answer 3

There would be a "flash" but no blast like there would be if it detonated in the atmosphere, underwater or on or below the ground. There would however be a deadly radiation surge of gamma rays, x-rays and neutrons that would kill anyone close to the explosion. Satellites and other spacecraft would be disabled or destroyed from a distance because the radiation surge can wipe out electronics as well. If it detonates in low earth orbit, the blast can cause a massive Electro Magnetic Pulse effect that will knock out electrical circuitry and electronics over a wide area, blind radars and jam radio communications too. Out in deep space it would primarily just generate a radiation surge. If exploded close to an asteroid or spacecraft, that surge will damage or destroy it through melting and vaporizing materials on it. In the late 1950's and early 1960's the U.S. and Russia were launching missiles on test flights with live thermonuclear warheads aboard and detonating them in space over remote areas to see what effects would result. A 4 megaton blast 250 miles above the ground will most definitely be visible over a wide area. Now the U.S., Russia and other countries are signatories to a treaty that forbids the deployment and testing of nuclear weapons in space.

Answer 4

This has been done. There've been some on-ground, air-burst, very high explosions, and space-burst weapons testing.

In space, the explosion has no shockwave to produce - only a very fast-expanding ball of energy. EMP (a by-product of the explosion, Electromagnetic pulse) is also felt over a wider area of the Earth's surface, but it's less damaging.

In the 1950's/60's, there was talk about exploding a bomb on the moon's surface to 'show the world the extent of our power'. It never happened.

Answer 5

You get a lightshow. There can be no cloud formed like on earth (or high altitude tests). Nuclear blasts release all their energy in the form of highenergy photons like x-rays and gamma rays. On earth a small portion of that radiation is absorbed by the surrounding air and the ground producing the blast wave and the mushroom cloud.

And the sun IS a huge hydrogen bomb that is constantly going off. The only thing that keeps it from completely blasting off into space is its own gravity.

Answer 6

There is basically not a "hearth" ball, yet there will be a extensive launch of power in this sort of white mild and radiation that ought to nevertheless "burn" some thing, which incorporate a living being, could desire to be close adequate to it. think of of a nuclear bomb as an extremely small solar, it is largely an identical technique.

Answer 7

If a nuclear bomb is exploded in space. there will be a large cloud of dust, smoke and radiation there.

Answer 8

i am not sure that a bomb can exploded in space, because theres no air. I might be wrong.

Answer 9

It has been done. The resulting fireball grows much larger and faster than it does near the ground, and the radiation it emits travels much farther. See the source for details.

Answer 10

Take a look at the Sun.

**EDIT**
Thanks for the thumbs downs everyone. How does the Sun work then? Is it a coal fire?