Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeo80
IMHO, a lot of the anti-satellite work could have been done with the use of EMP in space. A few large mega-ton range weapons detonated at 120-150 miles would have fried a lot of the existing satellites. IF you use V1.0, with the continuing cold war, the US had the Titan ICBM's with 5+ mega-ton warheads. The USSR had the SS-18 with 25 mega-ton. One or two of these would have created havoc.
Of course, this use would have been a MAD type of response. I do not know if these weapons would have been released with the (relatively) small exchanges of v1.0 or v2.2. One thing both the US and the USSR were trying to do was prevent the all out exchange of weapons. Either side seeing an ICBM launching would have been TERRIFIED. And determined to get what ever they could of the rest of the weapons out of their silos.
Just a thought.
My $0.02
Mike
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I think the problem with nukes into orbit would be the Outer Space Treaty signed by the USA, USSR and the UK in 1967, and later signed by all other nuclear armed states such as China, France, India, Israel and Pakistan, as most of the rest of the world as well.
The Outer Space Treaty bars states party to the treaty from placing nuclear weapons of any kind or any other weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, installing them on the Moon or any other celestial body, or to otherwise station them in outer space. It expressly prohibits the use of nuclear weapons for testing weapons of any kind, conducting military manoevers, or establishing military installations.