PLANETARY DEFENCE AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS

摘要

Art.I §1 lit a PTBT deals with nuclear test explosions. An operational NEO intercept mission - be it to deflect or to destroy the object - is not a test. It is as stated an operational engagement. Art.IV OST prohibits placing nuclear weapons in Earth orbit, installing them on celestial bodies or stationing in outer space in any other manner. Planetary defence plans normally do not encompass the placement of any weapon systems in orbit or anywhere else in outer space. A nuclear warhead would not be stationed in space; it would be launched from Earth to engage the threatening NEO. The nuclear armed spacecraft would only fly into outer space and explode there in order to deflect or destroy the NEO - in a similar fashion as ICBMs merely traverse outer space on their parabolic trajectory.