Would explosions work in space?

To summarize, explosions can definitely happen in outer space, but they depend entirely on the chemical and physical conditions of what is exploding. Furthermore, most explosions would last for a much shorter duration and would likely be far less dramatic than we see in our typical Hollywood action flicks.

How would a nuke work 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.

Does an explosion create a vacuum?

All explosions create a vacuum space. Due to the expansion of vacuum space, shock wave occur (figure 3).

Would a bullet travel faster in space?

Bullets shot in space wouldn’t really travel any faster than they would on Earth, though they could travel farther. In space, where there is no gravity, your bullet could keep moving forever as long as it doesn’t hit something — like an asteroid or a planet.

What happens when a nuclear weapon explodes 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. Second, thermal radiation, as usually defined, also disappears.

Are manned space combat vehicles more vulnerable to nuclear weapons?

It does seem clear, however, that manned space combat vehicles, unless heavy shielding is feasible, will be considerably more vulnerable to nuclear defense weapons than their unmanned counterparts. On August 1 and 12, 1958, nuclear warheads were detonated in missiles over Johnston Island in the Pacific.

What is the lethal radii of nuclear weapons in space?

With such weapons the lethal radii (from nuclear radiation) in space may be of the order of hundreds of miles. The meaning of such huge lethal radii in possible future space warfare cannot now be assessed.

What are the dangers of space travel during war?

In addition to the natural radiation dangers which will confront the space traveler, we must also consider manmade perils which may exist during time of war. In particular, the use of nuclear weapons may pose a serious problem to manned military space operations.