How space-based sensors can detect nuclear activity

Researchers at the University of Florida are advancing new technologies to detect nuclear activity from space, positioning the university at the forefront of a rapidly evolving area of national security and space research.

Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., and James Baciak, Ph.D., professors in UF’s Nuclear Engineering Program, and members of the UF Astraeus Space Institute, are leading two complementary projects focused on space-based remote sensing for nuclear security.

Together, the efforts aim to develop next-generation detectors capable of identifying faint nuclear-related signals from orbit. This is a critical capability as space becomes increasingly important for both scientific exploration and global security.

“It means UF is helping lead on a difficult and important class of space-security problems at a particularly important moment,” Hartig said. “These projects position UF as a leader in developing novel technologies for detecting, characterizing and interpreting nuclear-related signatures from space.”

One project focuses on monitoring nuclear materials in orbit using advanced radiation detection systems, while the other explores optical and X-ray sensing techniques to detect and analyze nuclear events, including low-yield or concealed tests. Both efforts are designed to strengthen nuclear forensics.

For Hartig, it’s about making sure nothing stays hidden in the shadows. He wants to refine our sensors until they can pick up the 'faintest whispers' of nuclear proliferation and events, whether that’s happening on the other side of the world or being monitored by a satellite in orbit.

Detecting those signals presents significant challenges. Space-based sensors must operate under strict constraints, including limited size, weight and power, while enduring extreme temperatures and radiation exposure. At the same time, they must distinguish 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 research emphasizes an end-to-end approach, integrating physics, materials science, sensor design and data analysis/models into a unified framework. By combining expertise from UF and collaborators at the University of California, Berkeley, the team is working to improve both the sensitivity of detectors and the reliability of the data they produce.

Beyond technology development, the projects are helping train the next generation of scientists and engineers in nuclear security and space systems. These fields are expected to grow in importance in the coming decades.

Looking ahead, the research could help establish a stronger technical foundation for monitoring activity in space, improving the ability to detect, interpret and attribute nuclear-related events. Such capabilities are essential not only for scientific understanding, but also for informing policy, strengthening treaty verification and supporting global deterrence efforts.

“What excites me most is the opportunity to turn fundamental science into capabilities that directly strengthen U.S. national security,” Hartig said.

The long-term goal is clear: to make space-based detection more reliable, more precise and more impactful.

“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.”