In 1958, the US planned to detonate a nuclear bomb on the Moon. Why project A119 never happened

The US considered detonating a nuclear bomb on the Moon after Sputnik's launch. Project A119 aimed to demonstrate American power and prestige to the Soviet Union. Physicist Leonard Reiffel led the study, with Carl Sagan modeling the detonation's effects. The plan was scrapped due to risks and a shift towards peaceful space achievements. Similar Soviet plans were also abandoned for comparable reasons.

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