Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




NUKEWARS
Replica of most powerful nuclear bomb ever goes on display in Moscow
By Maria PANINA
Moscow (AFP) Sept 5, 2015


Eight metres long and weighing 25 tonnes, a replica of the so-called Tsar Bomb, the most powerful nuclear bomb ever detonated, has gone on display for the first time in Russia, in the midst of an ongoing standoff with the West over Ukraine.

Tested in 1961 by the Soviet Union, the hydrogen bomb -- also known as the AN602 -- instilled a mix of pride and fear in retired military pilot Nikolay Krylov as he looked at the replica housed at an exhibition centre near the Kremlin.

"When I come near it, I'm uncomfortable because I think of all the destruction it could have done," the 62-year-old said.

This symbol of the Cold War nuclear arms race is being showcased to mark 70 years of Russian nuclear history, as the nation's ties with the West remain strained by its 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and its alleged support for separatist rebels.

In May, NATO condemned Russia's "nuclear sabre-rattling" after Moscow announced plans to deploy nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad -- its European exclave tucked between Poland and Lithuania -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had been ready to put nuclear forces on alert as the West denounced the seizure of Crimea.

Opened on the first day of the new school year on September 1, the exhibit drew crowds of uniformed students, who clustered around the replica weapon, an uncanny sight for some visitors.

"It would have been better if the bomb had never existed," 72-year-old Galina Ivanova, who worked on Russia's civilian nuclear energy programme for more than three decades, told AFP at the exhibition.

"But at the time, the bomb played an important role. It might be the reason why we are still here today," she said.

-Guarantor of peace-

On October 30, 1961, the nuclear bomb developed by Russian scientists -- including future Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov -- was detonated in the Soviet Union's Novaya Zemlya archipelago above the Arctic circle.

The detonation, which yielded an explosive force of 50 megatons, produced a gigantic fireball visible from hundreds of kilometres away and sent seismic shockwaves through the surrounding area.

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev had warned the United States a year earlier, during the 1960 United Nations General Assembly, that the Soviet Union would show them "Kuzkina mat" (Kuzka's mother), a term he used to designate the Tsar Bomb.

The detonation was the result of a wide-ranging atomic research programme ordered by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin just before the end of World War II. Its goal: develop the atomic bomb as the United States had.

The Soviet Union and the US, who joined together to fight Nazi Germany, became locked in a global struggle for international influence, racing to acquire nuclear warheads despite knowing that any attack would have disastrous consequences for both sides.

"This bomb, the most powerful of its kind, helped countries strive for peace," said Mikhail Bayaskhalanov, a tour guide at the exhibition.

Bayaskhalanov insisted that putting the bomb on display was not "meant to scare anyone."

"Nuclear energy is not only atomic bombs and missiles but also civilian nuclear programmes, icebreakers, electricity production, sectors in which Russia has very high performing technologies," he said.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








NUKEWARS
Russia's Seven 'Scariest Arms' Include Nuclear Subs, Hypersonic Missiles
Moscow (Sputnik) Aug 24, 2015
In the coming years Russia is expected to introduce seven cutting-edge weapons as part of its massive modernization program of the military that will scare the living daylight out of any foe, defense analyst David Nye asserted. Not surprisingly, Russia's newest nuclear submarines, including the fifth generation submersible currently in development, topped the list. The National Interest ha ... read more


NUKEWARS
China Plans Lunar Rover For Far Side of Moon

Russia Eyes Moon for Hi-Tech Lunar Base

Russia Gets Ready for New Moon Landing

ASU chosen to lead lunar CubeSat mission

NUKEWARS
One small step for man as astronaut controls robot from space

What Happened to Early Mars' Atmosphere

ASU instruments help scientists probe ancient Mars atmosphere

Opportunity brushes a rock and conducts in-situ studies

NUKEWARS
New Life for Old Buddy: Russia Tests Renewed Soyuz-MS Spacecraft

Opportunity found in lack of diversity in US tech sector

Boeing Revamps Production Facility for Starliner Flights

In Virginia, TechShop lets 'makers' tinker, innovate

NUKEWARS
Progress for Tiangong 2

China rocket parts hit villager's home: police, media

China's "sky eyes" help protect world heritage Angkor Wat

China's space exploration potential has US chasing its own tail

NUKEWARS
Soyuz rocket with three astronauts launches towards ISS

Slam dunk for Andreas in space controlling rover on ground

Russian ISS Crew's Next Spacewalk Planned for February 2016

Mogensen begins busy ISS tour

NUKEWARS
US Launches Atlas V Rocket With Navy Communications Satellite After Delay

US Navy to Launch Folding-Fin Ground Attack Rocket on Scientific Mission

FCube facility enters operations with fueling of Soyuz Fregat upper stage

SpaceX delays next launch after blast

NUKEWARS
Earth observations show how nitrogen may be detected on exoplanets, aiding search for life

Distant planet's interior chemistry may differ from our own

Earth's mineralogy unique in the cosmos

A new model of gas giant planet formation

NUKEWARS
Self-sweeping laser could dramatically shrink 3-D mapping systems

Using ultrathin sheets to discover new class of wrapped shapes

Customizing 3-D printing

DNA-guided 3-D printing of human tissue is unveiled




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.