Nuclear Weapons Resources

This factsheet outlines the Bush administration's funding request to develop a space-based missile defense system.

Space debris is any human-made object in orbit that no longer serves a useful purpose. It includes defunct satellites, discarded equipment and rocket stages, and fragments from the breakup of satellites and rocket stages.

Over the next several decades, the so-called Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program would redesign and replace the entire U.S. nuclear arsenal with new warheads.

U.S. government assessments of China's military prowess are sometimes based upon shaky sources.

An introduction to space weapons uses and policy issues.

Fact Sheet discusses objects in space. Satellites by country, industry, orbit and more.

A workshop of technical experts discussed the Department of Energy's plans to replace existing warheads in the U.S. nuclear stockpile with new warheads developed under the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program.

An analysis of a March 2005 report by the U.S. National Air and Space Intelligence Center

A few basic laws of physics have important implications for the way satellites, space-based weapons, and anti-satellite weapons can be designed and operated.

An earth-penetrating weapon (EPW) is designed to hit the earth at high speed and penetrate into the ground before exploding.

UCS is working for a safer world by eliminating risks of nuclear arsenals and nuclear terrorism, improving nuclear plant safety, preventing deployment of anti-satellite and space-based weapons, and enhancing international dialogue on security issues.

The ballistic missile defense system that the United States will deploy later this year will have no demonstrated defensive capability and will be ineffective against a real attack by long-range ballistic missiles.