{"id":2180311,"date":"2024-02-19T21:20:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T02:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/commander-of-germanys-military-space-command-warns-about-potential-russian-space-weapon\/"},"modified":"2024-02-19T21:28:33","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T02:28:33","slug":"commander-of-germanys-military-space-command-warns-about-potential-russian-space-weapon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/commander-of-germanys-military-space-command-warns-about-potential-russian-space-weapon\/","title":{"rendered":"German Military Space Command Chief Warns of Russian Space Weapon Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcommander-of-germanys-military-space-command-warns-about-potential-russian-space-weapon%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2180311&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Threat of a Nuclear Space Weapon: Rendering Space\u200c Unusable<\/h2>\n<p>The commander of Germany\u2019s military Space \u200cCommand issued a stark warning last week, stating that Russia&#8217;s proposed development of a nuclear weapon for use in space could have catastrophic\u200d consequences. Major General Michael Traut, speaking \u200bat the Munich\u200c Security Conference, emphasized that detonating a nuclear weapon in high atmosphere or space would render space unusable, \u200dpotentially forever.<\/p>\n<p>According to Traut, the detonation of such a weapon would have devastating \u200deffects on satellites from\u2062 all nations, including China, Russia, America, and Europe. He\u200d argued that\u2064 no \u200crational actor would employ such a weapon in space due \u200bto the catastrophic consequences it would entail.<\/p>\n<p>House \u200bIntelligence Committee\u2064 Chairman Mike Turner also expressed concern about the issue, drawing attention \u200dto the \u200bclassified matter. \u2063He \u200cvoiced worries that the administration was attempting to cover up their inaction on the issue, similar to their\u200b handling\u200d of the Chinese spy \u2063balloon incident.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Col.\u200c \u201cTony\u201d Vincent, \u200ban active duty scientist in the United States Air Force, \u200bhighlighted the dangers\u200b of a nuclear weapon detonated in space. He referenced the Starfish Prime test conducted in 1962, which revealed the destructive power of a high \u2064altitude nuclear detonation. The test damaged or destroyed a significant portion of satellites\u2063 in low Earth orbit at the \u200btime.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>&#8220;The test was codenamed Starfish Prime and it revealed an unfortunate lesson: \u2062Even one high altitude nuclear\u2063 detonation is particularly \u2062effective at destroying satellites. Not only were satellites in the line of sight destroyed, but even\u2063 satellites on the other side of Earth were damaged and rendered inoperable. Starfish Prime damaged or destroyed roughly one third\u200d of all satellites in low Earth orbit at the time.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Vincent emphasized the need for commercial satellites to be hardened against radiation to protect them from the threat of a nuclear space weapon. However, he cautioned that this\u2062 practice comes with increased costs and potential size \u200dand mass implications for the payload.<\/p>\n<p>He further warned that there are\u200d two primary motivations for a country to use a \u2064nuclear weapon in space:\u2062 to cripple America&#8217;s economy and to disrupt the U.S. Military&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-company-buys-u-s-farmland-near-air-force-base-sparking-espionage-concerns\/\" title=\"Chinese Company Buys U.S. Farmland Near Air Force Base, Sparking Espionage Concerns\">space-based assets<\/a> used for command and \u200dcontrol.<\/p>\n<p>Vincent explained that a nuclear explosion \u200bin\u200d space would disproportionately harm the United\u2062 States, which is the largest investor in space capabilities. The economic impact would be immediate, as commercial satellites in\u2063 low Earth orbit would be the first to \u2064fail due to the radiation belt created\u2063 by the detonation. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-announces-national-security-threat-this-raises-some-questions\/\" title=\"Biden Administration flags security threat, prompts inquiries\">military space assets<\/a> may still function for a period, their\u2064 informational space products would\u200d be severely \u200cdegraded.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Vincent highlighted that the threat of a nuclear space weapon is higher than commonly perceived. He argued that a nuclear \u2062strike in response to such an attack would only further \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-military-official-explains-the-threat-of-a-russian-anti-satellite-nuclear-weapon\/\" title=\"U.S. military official warns of Russian anti-satellite nuclear weapon threat\">degrade space-based assets<\/a>. The attacked nation\u2062 would have to consider conventional or \u2064nuclear weapons as a\u200b response, which would escalate the conflict significantly. However, an adversarial nation may not find the threat\u2064 of a nuclear\u2062 response credible.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>&#8220;Once an adversarial nation\u200c with a disadvantage in space capabilities detonates a nuclear\u200d weapon in this \u2064domain, there is no benefit \u200dto respond with a similar attack. This act would further degrade\u2064 space-based assets\u2026 The attacked nation, then, must consider responding \u200cwith conventional or \u2063nuclear weapons on Earth. Targeting\u2062 cities \u200band military installations with nuclear weapons is not an in-kind response \u200bto \u200dthe initial\u2064 action of\u2063 nuking\u200b space\u200d and represents another significant escalation in the conflict. Space assets are not on par with human\u2064 lives. \u2063Further, the attacking nation will also\u200d have nuclear weapons in reserve, and with the right mix of forces can hold targets at risk. Therefore, the attacked nation would \u2062have to weigh escalating to nuclear \u2062weapons use, knowing that it would invite a nuclear response on \u200dtargets in the\u200c homeland. The obvious response \u2062is to signal that\u200c the use of nuclear\u2064 weapons in space would be\u2064 treated as a\u2064 nuclear attack on Earth, but an adversarial nation could consider such a threat \u2063non-credible. A\u2062 nation may also be deterred from acting because every nation in the world is dependent upon space products to some degree. \u200dTherefore, using a nuclear weapon in space would be &#8216;self-harm.&#8217; However, \u200das the history of war reveals, nations choose self-harm, such as when they collapse their own bridges and burn \u200bfields, to prevent an invader from gaining ground. Nuclear \u2062weapons are at the \u200cpinnacle of threat escalation, so the \u200duse \u200bof one \u2064is a sign of desperation\u200b with diminishing alternative options.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The potential\u2063 consequences of \u200da nuclear space weapon are grave, as it could permanently disrupt space activities and have severe economic and military impacts. It is crucial for nations to address this threat and \u2062take necessary measures\u2062 to protect their space assets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/house-intel-republican-warns-russian-space-weapon-may-blind-u-s-economy-and-military\">House Intel Republican Warns Russian Space Weapon \u2064May \u2018Blind\u2019\u2064 U.S. Economy And Military<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What \u200csteps \u200bcan the international community take to\u200b prevent\u2063 the development and \u200ddeployment of nuclear space weapons?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  To\u2063 refraining from using\u2061 \u2064all \u200davailable\u200d tools of war. That nation will already be\u200b faced with the \u2064reality \u200cof their space assets\u2062 being rendered useless \u200cby the initial detonation.&#8221;\u200b\u200b<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Given the potential catastrophic consequences, it is vital\u2063 that the international\u2062 community \u2062takes steps to\u200c address the threat of a nuclear space weapon. Major General Michael Traut has called for strong international consensus and cooperation to prevent the development and deployment of such\u200d weapons. \u2063He stressed the importance of \u200cdiplomatic efforts and discussions\u200b to ensure the peaceful use of space remains intact.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Lt. Col.\u200c \u201cTony\u201d Vincent recommended that countries invest in research\u200d and development of\u2062 space-hardened satellite technology. By improving the resilience and protection\u2063 of satellites\u2062 against radiation, the impact of a nuclear \u2064space\u200b weapon could be minimized. This would require collaboration between governments, space agencies, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ai-is-already-learning-from-putins-war-in-ukraine\/\" title=\"AI Is Already Learning From Putin\u2019s War in Ukraine\">commercial satellite companies<\/a> to develop and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-taps-key-leader-kamala-harris-to-head-first-ever-gun-control-office\/\" title=\"Biden selects Kamala Harris to lead inaugural Gun Control Office.\">implement effective strategies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, international treaties and agreements\u200c should be established or strengthened to specifically prohibit the development, testing, and use of nuclear weapons in space. The \u2062Outer Space \u200bTreaty of\u2064 1967 already prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit and establishes space as a peaceful domain, but additional measures may be necessary to ensure compliance and deterrence.<\/p>\n<p>The threat of a nuclear space weapon is \u200ca \u2064serious concern that must be \u200daddressed promptly. The \u2064potential consequences are far-reaching, jeopardizing not only the functionality\u2063 of satellites but \u200dalso the economic and military aspects of nations heavily reliant on\u200b space-based\u2064 assets. International cooperation, research and development, and robust legal \u200cframeworks are essential in safeguarding the peaceful \u2064use and sustainability of outer space. Failure to act could have\u2063 devastating consequences \u2064for \u200dour\u200c modern way of life and\u200c the\u200c future of space exploration and innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>German military Space Command&#8217;s commander, Major General Michael Traut, expressed concern at the Munich Security Conference about Russia&#8217;s alleged plans to develop a space-based nuclear weapon. He warned that such a weapon could permanently render space unusable<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":2180312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/Russia-2-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/Russia-2-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2180311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2180312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2180311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2180311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2180311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}