The Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was the United States’ effort to design and build the world’s first Atomic bomb. We achieved our goal with the help of the greatest physicists and mathematicians on this planet. This 20 billion dollar project resulted in the first uranium and plutonium bombs ever made. America’s will to discover true nuclear power was driven by the fear of Nazi Germany achieving the bombs first. Fighting the 2 front war had to stop, and we knew exactly how to do that. The first bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the result on the Japanese surrendering and further more ending the war with a victory.

Nuclear art

Through the eyes of the creator



Robert Oppenheimer (right) oversaw entire Manhattan Project.

            It was one of the wildest ideas I had ever heard. A bomb that could wipe out a whole country, Isn’t that a bit much? In the beginning, I didn’t think anything of the true chaos it would bring. I blame it on the excitement in being involved in the biggest step forward in military history. This bomb would change the entire way we look at military strategy. But that was only a few months ago as we are soon to finish the world’s first atomic bomb. Walking into the laboratory was not that much different than working man’s garage. The laboratory was riddles with parts and pieces all around as if the bomb had been fully assembled then set off. I had to finish riveting in the final pieces to the outer armor of the bomb. As I slipped on my protective white suit, I soon began to think of what powers this bomb truly possessed. Even thinking of Uranium core brought a sulfuric taste to my mouth. My mind traveled deep into thought and I thought of the bomb finished in whole. It was a spectacular sight. But it would give of a burning smell as if it had the stench of what it would bring to our target after total destruction. This woke me from day dreaming and I got to work. I guided the final fabricated metal into place with precise accuracy. One little uneven surface can change the bombs aerodynamics in the flight pattern. It was welded and riveted perfectly into place. The world’s first atomic bomb was finally complete. It was the most breathtaking sight in my life’s entirety.  


Little Boy



Nuclear warfare in the present

            There are more countries with nuclear bombs now than 10 years ago. The last thing this world needs is for more and more countries to become a nuclear power through their nuclear programs for research. The U.S. and Russia being the two biggest nuclear powers said to have reduced their nuclear stockpile from 10,000 - 5,000 for Russia and 5,000 - 2,000 for the United States. As more and more terrorist groups get nuclear devices through stealing bombs and countries gain access to nuclear bombs through nuclear programs, we get closer and closer to world war 3.



                                 Nuclear Powers Chart

Nuclear devices

All nuclear devices are designed to cause absolute destruction but still have their differences. The Atomic bomb type is the original nuclear bomb. The majority of the energy output comes from a runaway nuclear fission reaction. Even this bomb has its different types, pure fission and Gun-type. The other main type of nuclear device is the thermonuclear bomb or commonly known as the hydrogen bomb. This type combines nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them to start the chain reaction that causes the explosion. But this bomb isn’t one for accuracy. This would be good for leveling a city or a rather large target.

Cold War



Russian circus bear(U.S.S.R.) and Uncle Sam(U.S.) teatering on the fate of our world.

The Cold War started soon after our victory in the Pacific. The Soviet Union was spreading their communist beliefs to Eastern Europe countries with intentions of spreading communism to all corners of the world. As the Soviet Union was spreading through Eastern Europe, the United States was giving aid to Western Europe under the Marshall Plan and repelled the spread of communism to these countries. This, of course, made Stalin very upset. During their entire span of the Cold War the spread of communism was our biggest fear, but so was a nuclear war, otherwise believed to be the end of the world. The U.S. and U.S.S.R. raced to acquire the most and best nuclear missiles and military technology. Can you imagine living everyday with the fear of an atomic bomb going off in your own home town? On the home front, U.S. citizens had to go through drills and safety practices daily. Luckily, in the end, not one nuclear missile had been used against one another.

Sources

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Wpngall.html

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Japan/Hirosh.html

http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp

http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war

http://atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/

http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/twocities/index.shtml

http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/trinity/index.shtml