Project A119 : US planned to nuke the MOON

Flash

Lost in speed
While the U.S. was the first to land a man on the moon, in the late 1950s, it was losing the space race. You remember: the U.S.S.R. put the first satellite into orbit (Sputnik 1) and successfully completed the first manned space flight (Yuri Gagarin).

The U.S. needed a boost. It needed something to show it could compete in the space race. It needed -- to blow up the moon, it was reported on Monday.
In reality, that's hyperbolic. The U.S. couldn't blow up the moon. It couldn't even propel a hydrogen bomb to the moon. It was too heavy, so the best the U.S. could do was send an atomic bomb to the moon. The secret project was alternatively called “A Study of Lunar Research Flights" or “Project A119” but -- as you probably know -- was never carried out.

It's unclear why the plan was scrapped, but there are a number of possible reasons. For one, while scientists were sure the sight of a nuclear flash on the surface of the moon would surely frighten the Soviets, it might not have the desired effect on the West (hope), but instead inspire fear, as well.
In addition, scientists were unsure exactly what -- if any -- effects the bomb's explosion would have on Earth. While this is the sort of thing always done in science fiction movies, usually with a disastrous result, this was real life.

Finally, NASA didn’t want to jeopardize any future landing missions to the moon with radioactive fallout.
Source: Project A119, or how the U.S. nearly 'blew up' the moon - National Technology | Examiner.com
 

D@rekills4

In the zone
Meh...
I will go patent the Moon now, so if they really blow it up in the future, I could atleast sue them.
 
OP
Flash

Flash

Lost in speed
is this true news? doesnt seem like... anyways check out the philadelphia project.
Philadelphia experiment was proved to an hoax. It's only possible if they use Camouflage-technology from G.I.JOE.
*www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_08_1_vallee.pdf

It's not a HOAX. Nuking the moon was already on the news, few years earlier.
US planned one big nuclear blast for mankind | Science | The Observer

But,it came to limelight now with a proof from the "Biography of Carl Sagan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "

Imagine what will happen, if there is NO MOON for EARTH?
 
OP
Flash

Flash

Lost in speed
It was just a plan to let the Soviets know, "Look, who's the Big Daddy now".
Thankfully, it was averted.
 

ajaymailed

In the zone
plan to nuke moon isnt all that surprising if we consider the extreme competition between them, both countries were willing to do just anything to reach ever farther, deeper into space. Much of the space exploration in those times is more because of this political rivalry rather than for benefit of science. They were willing to risk accidents, very high failure rate, invest huge amounts of money, stole best brains from Germany.

Moon was supposed to be next major military base for them, next major colony and possibly next major war. unfortunately moon didnt turn out to be all that interesting and was pretty costly for human exploration.
 
Top Bottom