Why space is about to enter its nuclear age
Fission-powered engines would make satellites speedier and more manoeuvrable
IN NOVEMBER LAST year Russia blew up a defunct satellite, creating shrapnel that will orbit the Earth for decades. The “direct ascent” missile test was a first for Russia and echoed a similar weapons test carried out by China in 2007, which also created an enduring cloud of debris. India and America have shot at inoperative satellites, too, although fortunately without creating as much associated long-lasting space junk.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Faster, higher, stronger”
From the February 5th 2022 edition
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