Astronomer Carl Sagan unveiled the secret reports

2000/05/09 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Astronomia
• Biografiak

In recent months, two biographies of the prestigious astronomer have been published. Keay Davidson writes that Sagan brought to light some secret reports. In this week's Nature magazine, the head of Sagan, Leonard Reiffel, tells us this story.

In the years after World War II, the U.S. center Armour Research Foundation (ARF) investigated the effects of nuclear explosions. In 1958 the Air Navy asked those of ARF to study the effect of a hypothetical explosion on the Moon. This was the project A119. Official title entitled «Study of the Stages of Research on the Moon». Among other things, they wanted to know if the explosion was going to be seen from Earth. On the other hand, they wanted to know the scientific data that could lead to explosions. The chemical analysis of the Moon, for example, could be an excuse to carry out such experiments.

Totally strategic action

The Air Navy showed its interest in using the impact that such an experiment could have on the political environment of the Cold War. He had no concern for the consequences of the destruction of the lunar environment. However, those of the ARF indicated this.

At that time, Leonard Reiffel was leading ARF physics research. Gerard P, expert in planet physics by Reiffel. He hires Kuiper as an advisor. The project included a young unemployed graduate. This young man was Carl Sagan. Sagan's work was not easy: His mission was to develop a mathematical model of how the gases released on the surface of the Moon are dispersed. This model was the first step in calculating whether the explosion was to be seen from Earth. ARF compiled reports of nine-month work, including those of Sagan.

After many years

By imperative of US laws, these reports were to be destroyed in 1987 and thus presumed. Reiffel claims that until the publication of the biography he has not known that Sagan sent these reports to someone unauthorized. No one is clear who received them. Perhaps Sagan sent those from ARF among Kurriku-Lum's reports to look for another job or to enter some institution. However, this point is not confirmed.

Knowledge of the current location of these reports is an American problem. However, the overall objective of this project has come to light and is a reflection of the environment of the Cold War. The attitude towards the environment was not a consequence of a lack of wisdom.

It is worth mentioning what Reiffel himself says: "For the benefit of the science of the Moon, competition between one or two to detonate the nuclear explosion was never made." Today we must not suffer unexpected consequences. Perhaps that is the most important data in this history.