I’m aware that it’s illegal to put any kind of weapon in space, for the sake of the explanation assume there’s no legal reason why not.
My Grug Smash brain has me wondering that if nuclear weapons are so difficult to properly dispose of, surely the easiest option would be to set them off somewhere where they can’t cause any damage.
In: Physics
It IS technically possible to dispose of nuclear materials in space, BUT:
– You will need to launch the materials not just into orbit, but onto a trajectory that takes it far away from earth. Stuff in orbit will eventually fall back to earth OR create a massive hazard for space travel.
– That will take big boosters and be VERY expensive since you will need many launches
– (If you do that, you don’t really need to detonate anything, just let it sail away)
– There is a significant risk that at least one launch has an explosive malfunction, spreading radioactive materials in the athmosphere – no es bueno
– Also, legal and diplomatic reasons
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