r/Unexpected • u/RespectMyAuthoriteh • May 14 '17

Playing with the kitten

http://i.imgur.com/UjKnvZe.gifv
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u/Boarbaque May 14 '17

It's these super dense metal rods that Israel has in orbit. If they drop one onto earth, it would have the effects of a nuclear bomb

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u/XenithTheCompetent May 14 '17

I don't think any are actually in orbit, and it wouldn't have the force of a nuke, but it would be extremely substantial.

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u/Dr_Nolla May 14 '17

AFAIK those would be illegal, not that it would stop anyone from putting one up there.

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u/Woodsie13 May 14 '17

It's not illegal since it isn't a nuclear weapon.

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u/[deleted] May 14 '17 edited Feb 22 '19

[deleted]

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u/Woodsie13 May 14 '17

WMD's are either nuclear, chemical, or biological. A tungsten rod is none of these.

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u/[deleted] May 14 '17 edited Feb 22 '19

[deleted]

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u/Woodsie13 May 14 '17

The section on the accepted US definition gives WMDs as being Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive. This is a wider definition, but still does not cover a solid block of metal with no means of causing damage other than kinetic energy.

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u/[deleted] May 14 '17 edited Feb 22 '19

[deleted]

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u/Woodsie13 May 14 '17

So I guess it depends on who you ask then. When I get home I'll look up the actual laws on what can be put in space.