science

14787 readers

60 users here now

A community to post scientific articles, news, and civil discussion.

rule #1: be kind

<--- rules currently under construction, see current pinned post.

2024-11-11

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

143

Starfish Prime - The US oopsie so big that the world agreed no more detonation of nuclear weapons should be done in space. (m.youtube.com)

submitted 4 months ago by 11111one11111 to c/science

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

For more on High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) from nuclear detonation here is the Department of Homeland Security report on the estimated affects if a hostile use of a HEMP was detonated now.

top 10 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] A_A 23 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

"Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States, a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Defense Atomic Support Agency. It was launched from Johnston Atoll on July 9, 1962, and was the largest nuclear test conducted in outer space, and one of five conducted by the US in space."
"... these man-made radiation belts eventually caused six or more satellites to fail ..." (9 satellite failed in total)

~~"Estimates for (...) excess deaths (...) have likely amounted to between 10,000 and 100,000."~~
"Estimates for (...) overall excess death impact of thousands of above-ground tests have likely amounted to between 10,000 and 100,000."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime

[–] [email protected] 31 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

That excess deaths number is the total for all above-ground nuclear bomb tests ever done combined.

[–] A_A 11 points 4 months ago

Yes, I cut the text so much that it became misleading. Thanks for the clarification.

[–] FlyingSquid 4 points 4 months ago

Which, unfortunately, includes armies being ordered to march into blast zones while the mushroom cloud was still in the sky, so it's not a very useful metric.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

The story of the man being blinded in an instant by the reflection of a bomb 250 miles away is pretty terrifying. Also the way the USA decided it would be a useful tool for blinding entire enemy populations and crippling their infrastructure. I wonder whether they still plan to do that.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Count on it. Anything that can be used to subdue "the enemy" will at least be on a list of possible weapons

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I’ve exploded hemp every night without issue?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Man if you're exploding it I think you're doing it wrong

[–] Sterile_Technique 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Don't be so judgy, bro!

lights fuse

[–] gnate 1 points 4 months ago

It's OK if you don't inhale.