SPACE WAR: Study Shows a Single Nuclear Blast Could Disable 99% of Satellites in a Matter of Days.

In the researchers’ simulation – incorporating the 13,300 satellites active in low-Earth orbit as of January this year – a nuclear blast in the region of the South Atlantic Anomaly would disable 25 percent of the entire fleet after one day.

At the end of day three, 78 percent of satellites would be disabled, which would increase to 98 percent after a week, and 99.4 percent by day 15.

Even in a scenario where spacecraft were given strengthened radiation protection, 99.3 percent of all satellites would be disabled within 30 days.

In another hypothetical situation, deploying a much weaker 100-kiloton warhead, neutralizing 99 percent of satellites would take a year.

But radiation wouldn’t be the only peril.

As soon as a detonation occurs and the first satellites lose control over their maneuverability, it would increase the risk of collisions in space, with the researchers estimating approximately 20 resulting collisions within the first two years.

After 10 years, the collisions would have left approximately 3,900 new fragments of space junk orbiting Earth.

Donald Kessler, call your office.