Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Stanislav Petrov saved the world

Stanislav Petrov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On this day, in 1983, the end of the world was almost accidentally triggered.

Stanislav Petrov chose to consider that it was highly illogical that just 5 missiles should be detected by new satellite detection systems when ground radar picked up nothing (in tense ensuing minutes). Instead of triggering a Soviet attack based on false readings (it was in fact sunlight at a particular angle setting off the alarms) Petrov considered it quite implausible that the USA would attack with a handful of missiles.

He was disciplined for not reporting the false alarm and thus prevented a possible triggering of a nuclear war of the worst kind.

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