Mell What happens if a bomb goes off in space?
In the vacuum of space, the lack of air means the principal destructive effects come not from the blast, but instead from the particles and radiation pouring out of the bomb, which dump their energy as heat on striking the target.
Do nuclear bombs explode in the air?
An air burst or airburst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an anti-personnel artillery shell or a nuclear weapon in the air instead of on contact with the ground or target.
Can explosions go off in space?
In space no one can hear you explode… Many astronomical objects such as novae, supernovae and black hole mergers are known to catastrophically ‘explode’. But as long as the explosion doesn’t require oxygen, then it will work in much the same way in space as on Earth.
What happens to a nuclear weapon in space?
If a nuclear weapon is exploded in a vacuum-i. e., in space-the complexion of weapon effects changes drastically: First, in the absence of an atmosphere, blast disappears completely.
When did the nuke go off in space?
On July 9th, 1962, a 1.4 megaton nuclear bomb was detonated approximately 250 miles above the surface of Earth. This may sound like insanity today, but those were crazy times, and the resultant explosion and after effects were absolutely incredible. What would happen if a nuclear bomb went off in space?
Can a thermonuclear bomb explode in space?
Thermonuclear devices have no reliance on oxygen or any other atmospheric gas. Nor indeed do traditional chemical bombs. Their deadliness stems from the intense heat (and pressure) generated by the explosion however, and secondarily the radiation, which does huge damage to body tissue.
How does a nuclear bomb affect the Earth?
When a nuclear weapon is detonated close to the Earth’s surface the density of the air is sufficient to attenuate nuclear radiation (neutrons and gamma rays) to such a degree that the effects of these radiations are generally less important than the effects of blast and thermal radiation.