麻省理工学院副教授阿雷格·达纳古利安提出一种利用小型卫星侦测秘密部署在轨道上的核武器的新监测系统。该系统透过探测核装置中铀与地球磁场中质子交互作用所释放的中子粒子来识别携带核武的太空飞行器，旨在应对太空军事化日益加剧的威胁，并为遵守1967年《外太空条约》提供技术验证手段。

提议中的监测卫星被称为立方卫星（CubeSat），重量不到100公斤，可使用市售设备制造，需在距目标约4公里处进行大约一周的测量。该方法具有「根本上被动」的特点，不涉及对被分析卫星进行X光照射或辐射，因此在政治上具有可行性。达纳古利安表示，此系统若能让恶意行为者知道其部署行为会被发现，将有效遏阻核武器在太空中的扩散。

该研究的背景源于美国情报机构声称俄罗斯正在开发天基反卫星核武器，以及1962年美国「海星优越」核试验曾摧毁低地球轨道约三分之一卫星的历史教训。伊利诺大学副教授安琪拉·迪富尔维奥对此方法持正面评价，但指出仍需在非理想条件下进行技术改进和验证测试，并认为该验证机制可与卫星安全的「拒止性威慑」措施互为补充。

A scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Areg Danagoulian, has proposed a new monitoring system using small satellites to detect nuclear weapons secretly launched into orbit. The system identifies weapon-carrying spacecraft by detecting neutron particles emitted from the interaction between uranium in nuclear devices and protons trapped in Earth's magnetic field, aiming to address growing concerns over the militarisation of space and provide a technical verification mechanism for the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The proposed monitoring spacecraft, called a CubeSat, would weigh less than 100 kilograms, be built from commercially available equipment, and require approximately one week of measurements at a distance of about four kilometres from the target. Because the approach is fundamentally passive and does not involve irradiating the inspected satellite, Danagoulian argues it is politically feasible. He suggests that if bad-faith actors know their deployment attempts will be discovered, they will be more likely to abandon such plans, making the system an effective deterrent.

The research is motivated by US intelligence claims that Russia is developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon and by the historical precedent of the 1962 Starfish Prime test, which destroyed roughly one-third of satellites in low Earth orbit and caused electromagnetic disruptions on the ground. Angela Di Fulvio of the University of Illinois offered a positive assessment of the method but noted it requires further technical refinement and testing under less idealised conditions, and could complement deterrence-by-denial strategies that improve satellite security against attacks.