Put a smile on yer dial for a Friday [MEDIA]

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mudguts

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15/05/26

15:20

Post #: 83963197
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Originally posted by birdman29 ↑

Initiated a top-secret plan known as Project A119 to detonate a nuclear bomb on the Moon in 1958, with studies continuing until January 1959. Aimed at demonstrating military prowess during the Cold War and boosting American morale after the Soviet launch of Sputnik, the proposal was ultimately abandoned due to risks and potential safety concerns.

Purpose: To create a massive flash of light, visible from Earth, to showcase technological superiority following the launch of Sputnik 1.

The Team: The project was led by physicist Leonard Reiffel at the Armour Research Foundation (now IIT Research Institute) in Chicago, which included Carl Sagan.

The Plan: The study aimed to detonate a nuclear device (initially considering a hydrogen bomb, later a smaller W25 warhead) on the terminator line of the moon—the edge between light and dark—to maximize visibility.

Why it was Cancelled: The Air Force dropped the project due to risks associated with sending a nuclear device into space and public backlash concerns.

The project was kept highly classified until 2000, when it was revealed by Dr. Reiffel...
Dr. Leonard Reiffel (1927–2017)

Physicist & Inventor: An American physicist, author, and educator

NASA Consultant: Served as a science consultant for NASA, helping to identify Apollo lunar module landing sites.

Scientific Background: Worked on nuclear physics and was involved in research surrounding the Cold War, including studies on nuclear weapon effects.

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Put a smile on yer dial for a Friday
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