#Politics There's speculation on X that the "threat" may be that #Russia is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in orbit.

That would be a violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, Article IV.

"States Parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner." (1/x)

https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.html

#Politics I can't stress how incredibly destabilizing that would be. As far as we know, no nation has done that -- not us, not China, and certainly not #Russia.

Every spacefaring nation abides by the Outer Space Treaty. To violate it in such a blatant manner would make Russia an international pariah in the space community. I think it would end the #ISS partnership, and it might cause China to rethink their space alliance with Russia.

I still think it's the hypersonic missile. We'll see. (2/2)

#CNN has a little more on yesterday's breaking news about the #Russia intel report.

"The US has new intelligence on Russian military capabilities related to its efforts to deploy a nuclear anti-satellite system in space, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence."

It would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty -- "States Parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons ..."

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/politics/house-intel-chairman-serious-national-security-threat/index.html

So Republicans want Biden to declassify sensitive info about Russia, @WordsmithFL? Doesn't sound suspicious at all. Nope, not at all. 🙄

@WordsmithFL you mean the hyper sonic missiles Ukraine shot down using Patriot missiles?

@Kinnison maybe the latest ones they couldn’t shoot down? @WordsmithFL

@WordsmithFL WTF is wrong with the republicans? Declassify all of it? JFC.

@WordsmithFL
And a hypersonic missile would still be a weapon of mass destruction and against the treaty.

@FireMonkey Only if the hypersonic missile is deployed or launched from "space," which by international standards is above 100 km (62 miles).

@WordsmithFL @FireMonkey

If Russia deploys a Nuclear weapon as an ASAT. it is a sign of desperation. There is so many things wrong with the idea, as well how easily it is able to detect, and using it could cripple space industry and international commerce

that is if it even works. after 5 or 10 years it might not even be reliable enough to be used, and now you just wasted a nuclear warhead and is fissionable materials

not saying they wouldn't do it either

@WordsmithFL
That's what I meant, but I misinterpreted the mention of hypersonic earlier thinking that it was either a nuclear or hypersonic launched up into space.

@WordsmithFL Well that’s not good. Can the republicans finally say and see that Putin is a bad actor and NOT saving Ukraine from Nazism?

@WordsmithFL Putin has broken every other treaty he's signed. He doesn't care. He's already pretty much a pariah except for China, North Korea and Iran.