The Starlink satellite internet network could be destroyed by a nuclear attack in space. This was reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Chinese scientists have simulated the possibility of a point nuclear attack that could destroy the satellites of the Starlink project. According to journalists, the investigation took place in conjunction with Beijing’s recent raising concerns about Starlink’s potential threat to China’s national security.

During the simulation, the experts identified a way to destroy the network of satellites from SpaceX with a single blow. According to scientists, for this it is necessary to launch a 10-megaton nuclear warhead into the air at a certain height – about 80 kilometers above the Earth. The choice of this height is due to the fact that there is still air here, which will contribute to the formation of a radioactive cloud. A few minutes after the explosion, the cloud will rise to an altitude of 500 kilometers and spread over an area of ​​approximately 140,000 square kilometers.

“Due to the high concentration of fission products in the cloud, the emitted gamma rays and beta particles have great power, increasing their impact on aircraft and communications facilities in the affected area.”, – noted the author of the study, nuclear physicist Liu Li. With proper planning, the radioactive cloud will practically become a trap for Starlink satellites and disable them while leaving other vehicles unaffected.