Operation Plowshare

[Metryq]

At the end of "The Doomsday Machine" Kirk says, "Ironic, isn't it? Way back in the 20th century, the H-Bomb was the ultimate weapon, their doomsday machine, and we used something like it to destroy another doomsday machine. Probably the first time such a weapon has ever been used for constructive purposes."

In our world, at least (we know TOS 20th century history is different in a number of ways), US Operation Plowshare and a similar Soviet program attempted to apply nuclear explosives for peacetime, constructive purposes. The first shots were in 1961, so TOS writers could have known about it. Propaganda films were made, so the various projects in Plowshare were not secret.

By the way, William Shatner narrated three documentaries in The Atomic Bomb Collection, the last which addressed the Plowshare projects.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

It seems clear today that nuclear weapons should be used only as a deterrent against other nuclear-armed countries, and failing that, as actual weapons. The label says "Safe and effective when used as directed."

Using them for mining or carving out new harbors seems most unwise. I know you meant no implied endorsement.

 

[Avro Arrow]

It seems clear today that nuclear weapons should be used only as a deterrent, and failing that, as actual weapons. The label says "Safe and effective when used as directed."

Effective, maybe, but... "safe"?

 

[Metryq]

No, I meant no endorsement. Plowshare made it pretty clear that there are too many undesirable side effects for nuclear excavation to be practical. Meanwhile the 2002 "remake" of The Time Machine, a movie flawed in every way imaginable, included lunar colonies excavated by a 20 megaton device. That's about 200 times greater than the highest yield used in any of the Plowshare experiments. I don't know if that would be enough to frag the Moon, but the writers were going full-bore stupid on everything else.

One would have to go through some politician-grade mental contortions to arrive at Kirk's use of the term "constructive." (Sorry, Kirk, but I'm actually blaming the writer.) The Constellation was still applied as a weapon.

(Now, if the Doomsday Machine had received counseling on its purpose in life, or some other constructive criticism, perhaps Starfleet could have sent it on a Dark Star mission, or some other helpful task, like mosquito control. Man, that would be one helluva bug light.)

 

[Dilandu]

In our world, at least (we know TOS 20th century history is different in a number of ways), US Operation Plowshare and a similar Soviet program attempted to apply nuclear explosives for peacetime, constructive purposes. The first shots were in 1961, so TOS writers could have known about it. Propaganda films were made, so the various projects in Plowshare were not secret.

Yes, the Soviet Union used nuclear devices for civilian purposes pretty often. As I recall, about 124 blasts were conducted. The main goals usually were to:

- Create underground reservoirs for liquids and gases
- Conduct seismic sounding
- Intensify the oil and natural gas extraction
- Extinguish fires at gas fields
- Create artifical lakes

 

[Dilandu]

That's about 200 times greater than the highest yield used in any of the Plowshare experiments. I don't know if that would be enough to frag the Moon, but the writers were going full-bore stupid on everything else.

It would make relative small crater on surface and large exaust of dust and particles in space. Well, and probably some lunarquakes for a while, until the vibration would be completely absorbed.

Nothing to worry about.

 

[Dilandu]

Using them for mining or carving out new harbors seems most unwise. I know you meant no implied endorsement.

Wrong assumption. The nuclear explosions could be quite useful in large-scale enginbeering projects, like canal building.

The current lack of peaceful nuclear activity is generally the blame of generally brainless environmentalists, who went hysterical as soon as they heard "atom".

 

[Metryq]

Nothing to worry about.

Let me clarify: I highly doubt a 20 megaton sub-surface blast would harm the Moon, let alone alter its orbit. (As I said, the writers of the remake were going full-bore stupid.) However, I also think 20 megatons is gross overkill considering the results in Plowshare. I believe the largest nuke ever detonated was a Soviet device designed for 100 megatons, but exploded at about half that yield.

In The Wrath of Khan Dr. Marcus explains that the tunnels in Regula were excavated over many months by the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. While we do not have phasers, we do have plasma drilling—"inwented in Russia!" Plasma drilling would be slow and tedious as compared to nuclear excavation. Although a nuclear excavation would require building up a lot of living space within the bubble, while plasma drilling might afford the use of native rock. I don't know if it has ever been used in that capacity.

 

[Dilandu]

Let me clarify: I highly doubt a 20 megaton sub-surface blast would harm the Moon, let alone alter its orbit. (As I said, the writers of the remake were going full-bore stupid.) However, I also think 20 megatons is gross overkill considering the results in Plowshare. I believe the largest nuke ever detonated was a Soviet device designed for 100 megatons, but exploded at about half that yield.

Ah, then it seems I misundersttod you. Sorry.

Yes, AH602, nicknamed "Tsar Bomba". Designed as 100-megaton weapon, but full-scale test was considered too "dirty" (the bomb used U238 on the third stage, and the release of radioactive byproducts would be... terrifying). So, they replaced third stage with lead, and detonated at 57-58,6 megatons.

Must point out that two-stage version was relatively clean - it was highly-efficient weapon.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

The current lack of peaceful nuclear activity is generally the blame of generally brainless environmentalists, who went hysterical as soon as they heard "atom".

For the peaceful use of controlled fission, I'd agree with you 100 percent. We need more power.

http://www.sciencealert.com/computers-will-require-more-energy-than-the-world-generates-by-2040

But using nuclear bombs in civil engineering is where you'd lose my enthusiasm.

 

[Dilandu]

But using nuclear bombs in civil engineering is where you'd lose my vote.

Well, during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the problem could be solved in just a few days by using the nucear depth charge to block the well. I really doubt that a small nuke would be more harmful for lopcal ecology than 4,9 millions barrel of oil in seawater...