Russian Nuclear Weapons in Space? Here’s What We Know. | WSJ

Russia wants to put a nuclear weapon into space, new intelligence suggests. Although details are slim, policy experts said that the technology could be used against satellites, raising questions about Russia’s intentions and the potential ramifications of an orbital detonation.
WSJ looks at the history of nuclear detonation in space with Starfish Prime and explores what we know about Moscow’s development.
Starfish Prime test footage courtesy of Atomcentral: • Trinity and Beyond - N...
Chapters:
0:00 The U.S.’s new intelligence
0:37 What we know so far
1:45 Starfish Prime
4:21 Russian capabilities in space
News Explainers
Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news.
#Russia #Nuclear #WSJ

[@sp15_]

"Be very very afraid." - the news

[@seanbaskett5506]

Russia has had FOBS systems in play since the SS-18 went online. This is designed as an anti-sat/EMP weapon. What most don't realize is that any Teller-Ulam thermonuclear detonated as a high atmospheric airburst will have this effect. This is not new, nor is it terrifying. Literally been around since at least the early '80's.

[@toxicgracie3772]

Exactly, Cold War tech. This is fear mongering at it's finest

[@I_cant_sneed]

shhhhh people arnt suppose to know that

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

an emp is not a nuke.. thats just stpd silly

[@tweety9003]

Qatar customer service

[@SyntaxErr19287]

Operation Starfish prime

[@loganfignewton]

Isn't this the plot of Modern Warfare 2?

[@drwalka10]

lol It def was 😂

[@padhlekaamaayega]

The 2009 one?

[@AspieTrips]

yes the only good MW2, not this new stuff. @@padhlekaamaayega

[@rundown132]

It's all coming full circle

[@gregorio3139]

The real plot is that this is another (((urgent))) fundraiser for the MIC.

[@TheOcean777]

It’s called fear mongering. It helps the military industry complex thrive.

[@SilverStarHeggisist]

Exactly and it helps line politician's pockets

[@redredwine1054]

So are you telling me Putin was fuelling the "military industry complex" when he was threatening to use nukes because of Ukraine?

[@r3dp1ll]

@@redredwine1054 he never said that. He said if they are directly attacked by NATO.

[@diamanteduul8084]

@@redredwine1054You know Putin never directly talks about nukes? The headlines you see are always his RESPONSES when he is asked to comment about US/EU politicians talking about nukes. At least that's how 'nuke' talks started 🙃 now the cats out of the bag

[@YaraMits]

​@@redredwine1054i can assure you, ruzzia had never used its nukes on civilian targets, unlike murica. See?

[@Dilexro]

man this just gives me throwback to the mw2 campaign

[@9kk99k9k]

It is. 😂

[@furkanyldz8460]

game has already begun, wake up neo

[@Ata5ll]

And then they blame the normal guy's fridge for the hole in the Ozon layer

[@aadityapratap007]

That simply means Pentagon wants to deploy nukes up on space. That's spooky.

[@larrymunn5279]

... I don't think that would solve this particular issue idk how much of this you watched or took in. The solution to too much radiation isn't to pour even more on lol.

[@Lt_Starburst]

WSJ commentator keeps calling it Starship Prime while the original footage clearly says Starfish Prime, AAAAHHHHH

[@sirdiealot53]

My brain 🫠

[@damaimakhlukhidup]

depending on the language culture. As we always say, if we do something America can disagree. But if America wants to do something, we have to agree. Otherwise it means we are not friends and America will invite friends to impose sanctions on us. This is the double standards of the dictatorial king's democratic ideology. So starfish for certain people might be starship.

[@Crangaso]

Chocolate Starfish Prime

[@philip2205]

@@wishunter9000 Notice how they called it "Starfish Prime" in the chapters... They made thiny slip ups in reporting before you know. I find it ironic how you care so much about this one screw up yet place no emphasis on the otherwise excellent video...

[@philip2205]

@@damaimakhlukhidup I'd much rather follow what America has to say than China. Besides, I find that connection a little farfetched...

[@finesupplements9698]

The US military budget is literally 20 times of Russia’s, yet Russia has Orbital Nukes and hypersonic missiles.

[@lajoswinkler]

"Nuclear weapons exploding in space" is NOT "orbital nukes".

[@wanderingquestions7501]

Well you have to consider the added expense of all those the USA bribes….. just to keep things in perspective. And the USA’s budget likely supports a number of other countries’ militaries.

[@sam8404]

Russia is so great, we should all move over there /s

[@rog2458]

And you don’t think we have the same or better? Come on dude.🤫

[@cryora]

Costs are also higher in the US.

[@user-rh3gt3xs5o]

Russia is tired of Mark Zuckerberg 😂

[@RadagastilBruno666]

I feel confused, a few months ago the news came out that the Russians had run out of missiles there, even the infantry was fighting with shovels. Now I find them threatening open space. Isn't this magic?

[@russelljames5631]

Us propaganda designed to continue public support on both ends. On one hand we should spend more on military because they are almost finished but on the other hand we should spend more because they are such a threat.

[@RadagastilBruno666]

@@russelljames5631 In a few words, War Machine Industry...

[@enlighty]

Wait, wait , wait. I remember that MSM said that there are no rockets left in Russia and Ukraine says that they use microchips from washing machines for rockets and now I have to believe that Russia builds nuke weapons in space with the same chips from microwaves and washing machines that are being stolen from Ukraine? Am i getting it right?

[@DrFumiya]

⁠@@RadagastilBruno666In even more fewer words. Rich elites.

[@wagbagsag]

StarFISH prime. Not starSHIP prime! C’mon WSJ, help me take you seriously

[@randyboisa6367]

I thought it was Geidi prime, or Optimus prime, or even Amazon prime.

[@cyotedude]

I choose not to take them seriously. WSJ as with all other media, are for-profit and will sell whatever brings in the revenue, or whatever capitulates with the current power. Recommend: listen to sources, but give credence only to fact-based believability. I always ask: What are your sources.

[@mapache-ehcapam]

To be fair Starfish sounds like the wrong name

[@morris9524]

Don't have to be agitated about it, your agitation is agitating my agitation

[@threeMetreJim]

They've had an anti-satellite capability for years. You've never heard of the satellite that releases another and then that releases another that could be used as a kinetic impactor at short notice (cosmos 2519, 2521, cosmos 2542, 2543 + rocket powered projectile)? Apparently this 'newer' threat is nuclear powered, not a nuclear (explosive) weapon. Enough power to jam satellites over a large area, to prevent surveillance, not to physically destroy them.

[@davidgoodnow269]

Yeah, a lot of people seem to be missing that point . . . .

[@defencebangladesh4068]

Exactly

[@blackmagnetica8714]

you forgot Kosmos 2499, probably the most sophisticated out of all

[@jojolafrite90]

Huhuh. But that won't knock out all of society in one boom. Any nukes in space, yes.

[@threeMetreJim]

@@jojolafrite90 Jamming GPS from above could well knock out a lot. A fair amount depends on it these days (mostly for accurate timing).

[@Antisocial88]

Those nukes are already up there. And we have nukes in space too.

[@MinusMedley]

😂 Can see who this video was made for...

[@rustycann6887]

starfish prime test was in 1962

[@Charlie-gf4mv]

Im not here to defend Russia but having no cultural analysis in any of these news stories is mind numbing. Russia has been historically anti-nuclear in terms of space and seen it as a joint venture. At the height of the cold war there were countless joint space missions for gods sake. Many russians still see space as the ultimate frontier and the pride of their nation for their early achievements in space flight. A nuclear attack would be indiscriminate and damage russian assets equally. Damaging the last of their presence in orbit would be unthinkable for Russia, unless in an all out war of course.. .

[@JigilJigil]

Putin is crazy, 400000+ Russians soldiers are dead because of his invasion, he doesn't care about anything but himself.

[@Bradgilliswhammyman]

Treaty agreement to not militarize space...looks like Putin is breaking that.

[@mikefarrar3403]

I’m American and I know that we have already put that up there long before Russia

[@MONTEZZ90]

U ppl think everything is from you and one can’t do anything before you guys. Joke .. even the Chinese are ahead of US

[@MuantanamoMobile]

Even the Boeing X-37 robotic space planes...have been carrying out such tests for years. And can be used to eliminate their satellites. If true...this would just be levelling the playing filed again, and is unlikely to work in the way fear-mongered s it makes zero sense. The nuke-powered battery EMP-Satellite however makes more sense.

[@5lanediver]

it is called “starfish prime” not “starship prime” - this is a very famous test/incident. and they literally said it just before you said it wrong.

[@kurdi98k]

Wouldn't that ignite a direct full-scale war with the United States of America? One has to think what tremendous capabilities the U.S. has today if they achieved Starfish Prime over 6 decades ago.

[@TerriAnnNiemeier-dy3no]

Let the Aliens handle space

[@olligesd9343]

I find it absolutely hilarious that these people are freaking out about it and making a big deal. You know we've probably had nukes in space for at least 5-8 years already.

[@randyboisa6367]

Thats false. The DOD and Space force do not have nuclear weapons in space.

[@NLjunkie]

​@@randyboisa6367why? cause they "told" you that? 🤦‍♂️

[@brandtbollers3183]

Brilliant Pebbles .Regan Regime.

[@randyboisa6367]

@@NLjunkie Yes my senile stumbling stuttering friend Joe Biden promised me there is no nukes in space, Karine Jean Pierre also affirmed it.

[@randyboisa6367]

@@NLjunkie Yes, my senile stuttering stumbling friend Joe told me, and Karine Jean Pierre affirmed it.

[@DakilangAtsoy]

It will also damage their own satellite if they do that.

[@lordraydens]

they have reserves

[@Neo......]

it won't

[@DakilangAtsoy]

@@Neo...... 🤔 nuclear blast in space will fry all unprotected satellites as what was explained happened in 1960. There’s no barriers in space so the radiation or disturbance will travel fast and strong.

[@x-hale2899]

Are you guys actually hearing yourselves? You've gone mad.

[@sam8404]

​@@x-hale2899no see, Putin just says "no nukesies backsies" before he launches it and then it won't damage their stuff.

[@danmiller2177]

This is not new I've been knowing this for years...

[@markbishop1138]

We are in the day and time where anything can happen.

[@jackashmore]

But nothing ever happens

[@lajoswinkler]

@@jackashmore Except it does.

[@randyboisa6367]

The only time anything ever happened was August 6th and 9th of 1945, since then the world has been one big boring politicly correct soap opera.

[@distorteduzi]

@@jackashmorethey said the same about ukraine look at it now

[@jackashmore]

@@distorteduzi and look how it’s stalled out, just now Russia is finally making progress. I highly doubt much will come from it.

[@jpl6596]

Theres no chance that we dont have them up there too.

[@Neo......]

we don't

[@thelonewrangler1008]

Exactly! This is definitely the military industrial complex getting one of their intelligence buddies to scare everyone into opening their wallets for "protection". We've been drawing up and bragging about theoretical space weapons for decades on top of having active programs like the X47b and SR72. The US, Russia, and China have all demonstrated they can shoot down satellites many years ago and how it would cause a domino effect taking out everyone's satellites. It's the part where they keep stressing its nuclear that gives it away as no real threat at all and just your everyday fear mongering

[@jpl6596]

@Neo...... oh, you think just because there's a "treaty" that would stop us?? You tapped there tons of rules/ agreements that the US don't follow. They'll just never tell you

[@maxbounce5736]

So I guess, the Russian Strategic Shovels Program is more dangerous than the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture or PWSA, a program undertaken by the Space Development Agency

[@abdirhmanali6320]

I see what you did there 😂😂👊

[@milanradovanovic3693]

But those are NUCLEAR shovels, not just regular ones!

[@maxbounce5736]

@@milanradovanovic3693 Of course they are. Look, I’m no rocket scientist but isn’t it how shovels work?

[@milanradovanovic3693]

@@maxbounce5736 I am not sure that's why I am asking... Maybe they are planing to transport used shovels from Chernobil and target USA with those radiated shovels by throwing them from space. But then they would have to transport like millions of them from space, right 😂😂😂

[@sheikhboyardee556]

Gosh, it's like the "October surprise" has come early this election.

[@jefferydraper4019]

Biden had a bad week and they needed help earlier than expected. Im betting the October surprise will be some way to halt the election...you know...to protect the democracy or something.🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@haroldfeldt4987]

This has bin there for 50 years. The sky is falling the sky is falling send money fast to Ukraine.

[@by.myself42]

now we know why Zuck is building a bunker

[@goulddddable]

the Reptilians know

[@mitchellbutler7068]

That’s all very interesting, but could you tell me why Putin is drinking heavily?

[@greggemerer8251]

Great, reading the Sun again for your news?

[@avazjon1]

Mr. Vladimir Putin said that Russia is against developing nukes in the space. Meanwhile, this video says the opposite. 💀

[@Kai-ic4mp]

So…. The us “defense” sector needs more money again…. Wow I’m surprised there is not a little bottle of cocaine in the presentation 😂

[@mopthermopther]

Russia had a cow when Reagan said “ Star Wars “

[@barryshaw5660]

The Wall Street Journal has become a source of amusement.

[@profX-27]

the U.S. tested nukes in space after WW2

[@Zegeebwah]

Yes, I watched the video. Did you?

[@profX-27]

not all the way through. my comment was more towards equivocating than an actual question.

[@ADKaizenProductions]

They essentially made real life 007 GoldenEye emp based satellite weapon.

[@stevestovall9901]

Nuclear powered does not mean nuclear bomb

[@rogerparrett3242]

Funny how liberals laughed at Trump when he announced the creation of the Space Force. Now liberals are scrambling to blame him for (supposedly) Russian space nukes...😂😂😂

[@jefferydraper4019]

The sheep theyre talking to only hear what theyre allowed to hear.

[@larynOneka8080]

If Russia shouldn't feel threatened by NATO expansion then the U.S. shouldn't feel threatened by Russia expanding into space.

[@appleintosh]

That's not how things work

[@MuantanamoMobile]

😂 two can play that came...what's good for the goose...

[@williamlloyd3769]

Thought this was a thing in 1970s. Nuclear weapons in space wouldn’t really require Russia to develop any new weapon components. EMP would have a huge impact on society. Don’t know what the new intelligence is and not sure why it was brought upon a public forum.

[@barometricfunk]

And it would fry their satellites just as much as it would ours.

[@agapelove992]

Regan's Starwars

[@BCAT3089]

to scare the public!

[@Bluespicygreen]

Yeah this is not new, every nation with nuclear weapons can do this. Both the USSR and the United States detonated nukes in space, we don’t do this now because it would hurt everyone plus kill people in the Chinese space station and the international space station. In summery it’s just dumb to do in our modern era.

[@thomasbeachnaw9019]

That assumes that its even a nuclear weapons platform. Creating space debris is dangerous to all the world. The Chinese boasted of a laser to disable them, but a controlled EMP with a Faraday cage protecting its electronics if devised would be the most effective, non violent non damaging way to get what you want without crossing lines.

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

As if the US doesn't have nukes in space....

[@chocolat-kun8689]

When the US does this: Look at this, we made something that will keep the world align. When other countries does this: THIS IS DESTABLIZING, THIS IS TYRANNY!!!

[@AlJebra]

Did you ever pause to think of why that is? Russia, Iran, China, North Korea are totalitarian societies that invade and threaten neighboring countries, throw journalists in prison and 'disappear' opposition political candidates. The US... well, come to think of it, that's pretty much what the Democrats are doing.

[@appleintosh]

Both of those statements are true, and if you think it's hypocrisy then you have no understanding of western global hegemony.

[@maverick257]

Great idea❤

[@motorcyclemichael2182]

Star Wars?!

[@timedwards5600]

Like we don't

[@AjeetMulkhusRaiOfficial]

Why US can do anything in or outside earth like nuking in space without everyone's consent and act like an angel 😳

[@colinfitzgerald8221]

Since when did the plot from "GoldenEye" become a reality?! 🤷‍♂🤔

[@CouncilO5]

Electro magnetic impulse can also hit the high flying bombers and fighters , so it would make harder to be unnoticed for planes

[@RandomGuy-nm6bm]

Lol, love the subtle threatening sounding violins as Putin appears.

[@jannguerrero]

It's propaganda piece when they're trying to emotionally manipulate you

[@erock736]

“Russian nukes in outer space.” 😂😂 Man, the 21st century is just way too ridiculous to not laugh at it.

[@r3dp1ll]

What a freaking joke. Using nuclear bombs to destroy satellites ... Yeah of course.

[@Freedom4all31]

As much money as the U.S. spends on defense (more than the 9 counties combined) we should have to worry about anything from anywhere. In all fairness to the military, half of it probably never leaves the DC area. Didn't we see this in Space Cowboys?

[@cryora]

I'm sure they leave the DC area, but they go back to that area because that's where all the defense companies that sell to the military and government are headquartered.

[@k333rl]

it's not that we spend more than any other country. it's that the other countries don't spend a dime on their own defense and rely on a 100 year old alliance to watch their backs.

[@Freedom4all31]

Nope- we spend more than the next 9 countries combined, including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. @@k333rl

[@Freedom4all31]

Thats also where the crooked politicians get kick backs from their so called lobbyists.@@cryora

[@sinistereleven9145]

@@k333rl , we spend more than any other country and what 100-year alliance, are you a head in the sand democrat.

[@LUCKY1i1K7NG]

Starfish or starship prime, which one is it

[@caseykelso1]

Doesn't anybody remember Ronald Reagan or are you all too young to realize it he put up Star Wars program go look it up youngsters don't be so afraid this is the problem with youth of America they don't read and learn and know nothing about our history half of you people don't even remember 9/11😂😂😂

[@isiosi]

I know jump cuts are not nice to look at sometimes, but using morph cuts in a journalistic medium is unethical.

[@rogersmith8480]

WSJ, what did the U.S. do to cause Russia to do this? Back in 1962, the U.S. placed nukes near Russia's border which started The Cuban missile crisis. When the U.S. removed the nukes, the Cuban missile crisis ended.

[@charleswhatley5510]

Does anyone know how to use Google? Russia used a missile to destroy their satellite in 2021.

[@heinzletzte.6385]

pretty sure they censor these things soon

[@larrymunn5279]

I think I remember that.. I know there have been many attempts to bring down starlink systems via intrusion as shooting them down one at a time would be a waste of time, but seemingly none have been very successful with active management. They had more success bringing Canadian power grids offline. For whatever reason. Spite, I guess lol.

[@jojolafrite90]

Google has stopped working years and years ago. Corporate greed killed it.

[@sashanksingh6714]

This could be dangerous. Even an astray satellite can do a lot of damage.

[@shihabuddin7632]

Its not Russia , its USA developing weapon in space.

[@Cier433]

I only see a cheap excuse to justify the US making such weapons.

[@monash4250]

The US already does have such weapons. That's the blatant ugly hypocrisy.

[@sithlordbilly4206]

Sounds like the U.S.A. wants excuses to put their own weapons into space! 😮

[@oaka7616]

Faraday shield sales just went through the roof

[@sigmaparabellum8479]

The EMP weapon in the space is very old, I believe Rusia have a new way to generate electromagnetic pulses, we see in the evolved of Rusia electronic warfare.

[@grooveman222]

Meanwhile two real wars are happening in real time back here on earth, with no end in sight.

[@jenspettersson4070]

"Well boys i reckon this is it"

[@mikerodix4800]

Nukes in space make no difference when you already have submarines that do the same thing better

[@1serious0mfr]

Right, like ICBM exists and they've existed for a while now

[@thelemon5069]

Submarines do not have the capability of knocking out satellite communications

[@abdullahahmed2409]

WSJ Actual Meaning: US wants to deploy nuclear weapons in space but can't do it without saying it feels threatened and doing it for a just cause.

[@TheSyndicate09]

American Propaganda is truly a sight to behold

[@killosama72]

I remember this movie. Space Cowboys with Clint Eastwood, James Gardner and Tommy. Lee Jones.

[@roe85]

I guess MW2 (2009) is coming to light right in our faces. 🤔

[@Tommysays]

Interesting.

[@Fernando-wz6no]

I passed 50yo, I'm single, never married, no sons/daughters... I couldn't *CARELESS ENOUGH* !!

[@nightwaves3203]

I was wondering where that guy on the side of the road with the sign saying THE WORLD ENDS TOMORROW went. Glad he made it to NYC and got a job.

[@labradachig1976]

This is false! Tucker Carlson confirmed that.

[@ducpat]

And nothing about "OUR" secret space plane we sent up there first?

[@arcyhicks8335]

Yeah I saw that movie too.

[@ciscornBIG]

Ask yourself: if tucker carlson hadn't interviewed putin, would we be hearing about this?

[@jefferydraper4019]

The Biden admin and the establishment hacks got desperate.

[@samasiaskipperable]

One would think they would use lasers to destroy satellites not nukes.

[@MuramatsuInosuke]

The old school narrator said "Starfish Prime"😂

[@mikerodix4800]

That's what it was called

[@MuramatsuInosuke]

@mikerodix4800 The new narrator is ruining the whole program then! I like Starfish Prime waaaaaaay better! Lol!

[@Dan.50]

So the US spends TRILLIONS on it's military, more than all other countries combined, and they are worried about something that they somehow didn't think about??? I want my money back. I'll take hundered dollar bills if you don't mind...

[@emteiks]

It can be helpful to notice that the opposite of what Putin says is very often a true and useful communicate. So "we have always been categorically against and are now against the deployment of nuclear weapons in space" should read: "we are confident and invested to the deployment and use of nuclear weapons in space". It takes only a moment to learn. Another example could be "We do not have any intention to invade Ukraine, these are just exercises"... we all already know what he really meant.

[@chocolatepotato5469]

What if theyre working on a way to prevent their tech and satalites from being affected by emps?... if thats possible, this might be him beginning to test it. Imagine the advantage of using multiple emps while being the only one with electical infrastructure and quick communication........ they're not strong enough to beat the world, so why not kneecap it first to even the playing field.

[@mxolisithusi9054]

One against many weapons? Interesting

[@trevorsutherland5263]

As usual, it takes some time for us to get the full picture. Russian MoD recently reported to Putin they identified about 50 military, and 250 commercial satellites that actively participate in the war against them. They didn't specify how, only that this is an issue we need to "resolve".

[@KulageArt]

Space may be the final frontier but it’s made in a Hollywood basement. ~ Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

[@chrisbennett4974]

These kind of things sneak right by when you have an 80 year old president they can barely string a compete sentence together

[@snails6997]

Anyone have "Space Nukes" on the apocalypse bingo? I just got the "Rogue AI" last month with news about SORA.

[@jishan763]

We need Meek mill as kang the Conquerer for space detonation 😉

[@gegwen7440]

Now I wonder just what the US has been up to for decades up there ?

[@user-to9em9ii2x]

I don't think Russia is a threat to USA Russia has its own interests just like USA or any other big country. US should sit down and talk to Russia frequently.

[@davidmichaels4285]

Hasn't Golden Eyes satellites have been in orbit for 30 years or so

[@BBme]

If US claims this, means US already doing this!

[@permafredperma409]

🙋‍♂️ Ahhh …Don’t we use Russian spaceships to get to space currently

[@user-pq9ji7kt4l]

I assumed they had those years ago…..

[@Polyanna-ti2dz]

Interesting? Didnt we implement Under Ronald Regan The SDI system? Space Farce guys!

[@WorldsBiggest...]

Anything russia has you better believe America has the upgraded futuristic version of it already

[@k333rl]

we've had the F-15 for a long time.

[@toxicgracie3772]

And it's still the best fighter ever (undefeated)

[@OfficialSethro]

A nuke is a bit extreme for a satellite

[@jeffrosati2570]

The WSJ should stay in their lane with financial news.

[@isasaleh1508]

I guess it's time to double the defense budget.

[@GamerbyDesign]

Well lets hope after a devastating WW3 we turn out like humanity in Star Trek.