Speaker
Description
Theoretical studies have considered use of nuclear explosive devices (NEDs) to deflect hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs) for decades. Questions about how this would work in international relations, especially with respect to the Outer Space Treaty and the Partial Test Ban Treaty, have lingered though—making policy planning and international discussions difficult. Many discussions conclude that if an actual NEO deflection scenario arose, the decision to use a NED would hinge on the specifics of the situation and likely require endorsement by the United Nations Security Council.
This paper offers a possible set of international protocols for employing NEDs to deflect a hazardous asteroid. We begin by summarizing previous analyses of NED use for planetary defense, highlighting what technical studies have shown up to the present. We then propose protocols that incorporate technical, operational, and diplomatic elements. These include approaches to multilateral coordination involving the UN Security Council, design and trajectory factors to meet safety and transparency requirements, and diplomatic commitments to preserve future space and nuclear security.
We develop these protocols both as a future reference and to help facilitate new technical and international discussions, and we invite continued improvement. Ultimately, these preliminary NED planetary defense protocols could facilitate transparent planning for NEDs as part of new planetary defense strategies and capabilities.
The views in this abstract and paper are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy position or views of the U.S. government.