British media report that a hydrogen bomb nearly exploded over the US state of North Carolina in 1961. The Guardian newspaper and the BBC reported this on Friday, quoting declassified US documents.
The reports, US B52 bomber broke up in mid-air over North Carolina in January 1961.
Bomber was on a mission to watch against a Soviet nuclear attack. There were two hydrogen bombs onboard that fell to the ground. On one of the bombs, three of the four safety mechanisms designed to prevent unintended detonation failed to operate properly. Bur the 4th safety mechanism did operate, averting a catastrophe. The bomb was 260 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima in 1945. If it had exploded, it would have become the worst nuclear disaster in history, affecting cities as far away as Washington DC and New York.
The reports, US B52 bomber broke up in mid-air over North Carolina in January 1961.
Bomber was on a mission to watch against a Soviet nuclear attack. There were two hydrogen bombs onboard that fell to the ground. On one of the bombs, three of the four safety mechanisms designed to prevent unintended detonation failed to operate properly. Bur the 4th safety mechanism did operate, averting a catastrophe. The bomb was 260 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima in 1945. If it had exploded, it would have become the worst nuclear disaster in history, affecting cities as far away as Washington DC and New York.
No comments:
Post a Comment