Nuclear activity detected from space—primarily via commercial and military satellite imagery—has played a key role in the Trump administration’s ongoing Iran conflict.
Now, scientists from the University of Florida aim to take the US’s nuclear detection capabilities to the next level. They are developing new space-based remote sensing technologies for nuclear security. According to the scientists, these could detect even the “faintest whisper” of nuclear proliferation.
Next-gen nuclear security capabilities
The new work is supported by a nuclear forensics consortium led by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Together, they are developing next-generation detectors that can identify faint nuclear-related signals from orbit.
“It means UF is helping lead on a difficult and important class of space-security problems at a particularly important moment,” Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Florida’s Nuclear Engineering Program, explained in a press statement. “These projects position UF as a leader in developing novel technologies for detecting, characterizing, and interpreting nuclear-related signatures from space.”
Hartig and James Baciak, Ph.D., both members of the UF Astraeus Space Institute, are leading two complementary projects focused on orbital remote sensing technologies.
One of those projects is developing advanced radiation detection systems that can monitor nuclear materials from orbit. The other is exploring the use of optical and X-ray sensing techniques to detect and analyze nuclear tests from space—including any low-yield or concealed tests.
According to Hartig, his team aims to refine their method until they can pick up even the “faintest whispers” of nuclear proliferation. When it comes to the development of nuclear weapons, they aim to ensure that nothing remains hidden.
Separating nuclear threats from the noise
Space-based remote sensing technologies provide global coverage via satellites, making them a robust detection tool. However, space also presents key challenges in the form of weight and size restrictions. At the same time, any sensors must be capable of distinguishing weak signals from complex background noise.
“The problem is not just whether you can detect something,” Hartig said, “but whether you can detect it confidently and interpret it correctly.”
The teams have not disclosed any technical specifications regarding their work, presumably due to its sensitive military nature. However, they emphasize that their goal is to make space-based detection much more reliable and precise. Their work takes an end-to-end approach that integrates physics, materials science, sensor design, and data analysis.
Beyond the development of their technology, the teams are training a new generation of scientists and engineers in space-based nuclear security.
“This work can improve how we monitor activity in space, verify agreements, and support nuclear forensics and attribution,” Hartig said. “It’s about building the technical foundation for better understanding and better decision-making.”