Archive · 2 Dec 2025
NASA's Secret 1950s Plan to Nuke the Moon
A long time ago, in the 1950s, the United States had a secret plan called Project A119.
They wanted to explode a very powerful bomb, called a hydrogen bomb, on the Moon.
The reason they wanted to do this was because the Soviet Union (now Russia) was getting close to sending people to the Moon first.
The US wanted to show that they were the best in space technology.
They planned to explode the bomb on the part of the Moon where light and dark meet, so everyone on Earth could see a big flash.
Luckily, they didn't go through with the plan because they were worried it might hurt Earth.
A scientist named Leonard Reiffel was involved in this plan, and there were even other ideas like shooting down the Soviet Union's first satellite, Sputnik 1.
NASA and the US Air Force planned to detonate a hydrogen bomb on the Moon in the 1950s as part of Project A119.
The plan was intended to deter Soviet space advancements and assert US technological superiority.
The target location was the Moon's Terminator Line to create a visible flash of light on Earth.
The project was abandoned due to concerns about potential impacts on Earth.
Scientist Leonard Reiffel was involved in the feasibility reports for the project.
- Who
- NASA and the US Air Force
- What
- A secret plan to detonate a hydrogen bomb on the Moon
- When
- 1950s, specifically between May 1958 and January 1959
- Where
- The Moon, specifically the Terminator Line
- Why
- To deter Soviet space advancements and assert US technological superiority
- Project Name
- Project A119
- Time Period
- 1950s
- Objective
- Deter Soviet space advancements
- Weapon
- Hydrogen bomb
- Target Location
- Moon's Terminator Line
- Reason Abandoned
- Potential impact on Earth
- Key Figure
- Leonard Reiffel
- Initiating Event
- Launch of Sputnik 1