How The U.S. Nearly Destroyed Earth In 1962 | Starfish Prime Test

In 1962, the U.S. conducted the “Starfish Prime“ nuclear test in space, detonating a bomb 400 kilometers above Earth’s surface. This explosion, 500 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, created a spectacular light show visible from New Zealand. It was part of the nuclear arms race and aimed to showcase military strength but inadvertently formed a long-lasting radiation belt, damaging satellites and influencing space debris concerns. Despite its unintended consequences, the test contributed to space radiation research and led to the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, prohibiting nuclear weapons in space and the militarization of celestial bodies, serving as a reminder of the power and risks of nuclear technology in space exploration. Why America Detonated A Bomb In Space? The Starfish Prime Test Creative Director: Lakshay () Editor: Amrit Singh/Team 121 Creators () Presenter: Sidhart Viyapu () Thumbnail: Amaan Gul () Project Head: Rajkumar Shukla () Production: World Of Science Media () ©2023, World Of Science (WOS) Media. All Rights Reserved