Russia rejects resolution to ban nuclear weapons in space: how worried should the world be?

Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution introduced by the U.S. and Japan that called on all nations to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space. So, does the veto signal that Vladimir Putin plans to send nukes into space?

Mark Sundell, a law professor at Cleveland State University and director of Global Space Law Center, said no matter what Putin's intentions are, a fact remains: countries can't legally put weapons in outer space.

"As to its substance, it only reaffirmed what is already the law, a long-standing law since 1967, that no country may station nuclear weapons or any weapons of mass destruction in orbit on the moon or anywhere in space. And, we're just reaffirming that. But, it has obviously met resistance from the Russians," Sundell told KCBS. "But, I'll tell you this, that no Russian lawyer, and I work with a number of them, but they would never deny that placing weapons of mass destruction in orbit was illegal.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty is still in place and that treaty 'bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in outer space, prohibits military activities on celestial bodies, and details legally binding rules governing the peaceful exploration and use of space.'

Is that treaty enforceable, though?

Sundell says that it is, although the question of who enforces it is a big one.

Are the Russians actually planning to deploy a nuclear weapon in space?

Sundell said that Vice President Kamala Harris declared there should be a moratorium on the use of kinetic missile anti-satellite tests, which create huge clouds of debris that really threaten humanity's future use of outer space. That has been taken to the United Nations and has received a great deal of support. "And, that is a big step forward," he said.

"Now, if we can, get everyone to reaffirm the Outer Space Treaty and say that, there will be no nuclear weapons in space, that would be even better."