Nuclear Verification from Space-Satellite Imagery Within Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Verification Regimes

In the last decades, the international community has negotiated a number of multi or bilateral agreements on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control, partly including also provisions for the verification of compliance. Among the different verification measures, earth observation (EO) by scientific or commercial satellite imaging sensors has been considered as an important source of information. If the area of interest is not accessible, remote sensing sensors offer one of the few opportunities to gather almost real-time data over the area. The study reviews the technical progress in the field of satellite imaging sensors and explores the recent advances in satellite imagery processing as to the extraction of significant observables and signatures of possible non-compliance to non-proliferation and arms control. Moreover, it discusses how satellite data could be used complementary for confirming information gathered from other systems or sources.