The Lower House of the United States Congress has asked Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to provide a comprehensive assessment of what would happen if a nuclear device were detonated in outer space. The deadline for this briefing is set for February 28, 2025, and the decision was reported by RIA News. The request arrives amid growing concern in Washington about emerging space-based weapons and their potential to disrupt or destroy critical American satellites during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.
According to a draft defense budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the House Select Committee on the Defense Department has signaled deep unease about reports of new Russian capabilities aimed at space assets. The document suggests that this new generation of weapons could be deployed in orbit with the capability to neutralize U.S. satellites through a strategic nuclear-style event, raising alarms about strategic stability and the risk of an arms race in space. The committee stresses the importance of understanding the full spectrum of consequences, including environmental, technical, and political repercussions, should such a capability become operational.
In response, the Secretary of Defense, working in coordination with the National Nuclear Security Administration, is tasked with delivering a detailed analysis of the possible outcomes of a space-based nuclear detonation. The anticipated report must be ready by February 28 of the following year and is expected to address a wide range of questions, from the immediate blast effects on orbital infrastructure to longer-term implications for security, policy, and international norms governing space activities.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels have been active as Beijing has pressed Washington to halt what it characterizes as misleading claims about Beijing’s intentions in space and about U.S. production of space weapons. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged the United States to refrain from spreading accusations that could further inflame tensions and complicate negotiations on strategic stability in the broader international arena. The interplay between rhetoric and policy decisions in this area remains delicate as both sides seek to avoid missteps that could escalate risks to space-based systems used for communication, navigation, weather monitoring, and national security operations.
Previously, there was notable resistance within the United States to the idea of automated or AI-guided control over nuclear weapons. The debate has focused on reliability, safety, and the ethical dimensions of delegating life-and-death decisions to machines, with policymakers emphasizing the need for robust human oversight and fail-safe mechanisms to prevent accidental or unauthorized use. Despite domestic skepticism, discussions about advanced autonomy and reinforced command-and-control protocols continue to shape strategic considerations for the U.S. nuclear posture and space policy as the international environment evolves.