Researcher proposes satellite to detect nuclear warheads in orbit

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Areg Danagoulian, an MIT associate professor, published a proof-of-concept in Nature for an "inspector" satellite that could detect neutrons produced when high-energy protons in the inner Van Allen belt hit uranium in a thermonuclear weapon. The design filters incoming protons and uses directional detection to separate neutrons from the suspect satellite versus Earth albedo neutrons, and a modeled 2.5-mile (4 km) separation produced a detectable signal. The approach addresses a verification gap in the Outer Space Treaty as more nations expand orbital capabilities, and the author hopes others will develop prototypes.

A warhead could emit about 40 million neutrons per second.