Starlink in danger? China tests nuclear bomb attack on satellites

Fortunately, we did not have to worry about nuclear threats for many decades. In recent months, however, the unthinkable has once again found a place in the minds of some in power. Russia is not the only one threatening nuclear strikes at regular intervals. China, too, is again carrying out exercises that are intended to simulate attacks with nuclear weapons. This has now happened again. However, no land masses were to be targeted. Rather, the country tested the attack on satellites.

Starlink as a potential target?

Many experts believe that in the future we can hardly expect nuclear weapons attacks to affect land masses. After all, it is agreed that this would possibly result in the destruction of the entire Earth. Instead, some states are increasingly testing the use of tactical nuclear bombs. These could be detonated in airspace or orbit, for example. The aim is to disable the enemy’s communications by knocking out satellites. To be prepared for such scenarios, a Chinese research team has now simulated a targeted satellite attack using a nuclear bomb. This is according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Referring to the relevant written copy of the research report, the newspaper reports that a nuclear bomb was detonated at an altitude of 80 km. The research team of the Chinese military probably used a nuclear bomb with the weight of 10 megatons.

As a result, it turned out that a bomb of that size could be detonated at that altitude without damaging the earth itself. The situation would be different for the satellites orbiting the Earth. These would be damaged, if not destroyed, in such an attack. The reason for this are the radioactive components of the atomic bomb, which would also fly into space after detonation. These cause probably serious problems with the satellites, which circle around the earth. This is undoubtedly a demonstration of power against the USA. They are increasingly using Starlink satellites for military reconnaissance purposes. These satellites can provide Internet access even in remote regions or areas where there are no communication channels due to war or natural disasters. Starlink first made this clear during the Ukraine war, but also the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley.

First practical simulation

Of course, the Chinese idea of detonating a nuclear bomb in the sky rather than on Earth is not new. However, the People’s Republic’s military has so far simulated such scenarios exclusively on computers. Now the first practical application has taken place, and the result is what the responsible research team apparently hoped for. During the detonation at an altitude of almost 80 km, an atomic cloud was formed whose radioactive particles were shot into space at a speed of over 8,000 km/h and could hit satellites. This raises the question of why the atomic bomb should not be detonated in space. Due to the lack of oxygen, no cloud would form here that would provide a targeted bombardment of the satellite. Instead, multiple nuclear bomb detonations in space would ensure that the Earth would acquire a radioactive orbit over time. That would make space travel immensely more difficult, with which China in particular would cut into its own flesh.

Starlink knows threat situations

Starlink already proved how effective it is during the Ukraine war. Here, it still serves as an important communication channel today. But in the future, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s satellites will not be the only ones circling in orbit. Amazon is also building its own satellite Internet with Project Kuiper, which is to comprise a fleet of 3300 satellites when completed. Consequently, China would certainly also like to set a sign against the increasing proliferation of US satellites in orbit. Moreover, should a military conflict between China and Taiwan actually occur in the future, the huge People’s Republic under the leadership of Xi Jinping surely fears that Starlink and Co. could supply the island state with satellite Internet.