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First Bomb in US Detonated
Trinity was the code name of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. It was conducted by the United States Army at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project. The test was conducted in the Jornada del Muerto desert -
USSR denotates first atomic bomb
On 29 August 1949, the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test, code-named 'RDS-1', at the Semipalatinsk test site in modern-day Kazakhstan -
America tests hydrogen bomb 1952
Also known as thermo-nuclear bomb, a significant power increase above a typical nuclear bomb. -
Massive Retaliation January 1954
Idea announced by Eisenhower, fueled the idea of MAD -
First ICBM missile launched by USSR 21 August 1957
Named the R-7, was a significant range increase. Posed a major threat to the US because they could strike from farther than they could. -
Sputnik put into orbit 4 October 1957
Major soviet advance in space-race, moral shift, showed society that the USSR was a very strong world power. -
US develop ICBM technology 9 July 1959
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U-2 Incident 1 May 1960
USAF spy aircraft shot down over USSR -
Soviets detonate Tsar Bomba October 1961
An unnecessarily large bomb meant for intimidation -
Soviets detonate Tsar Bomba October 1961
An unnecessarily large bomb meant for intimidation -
Soviets detonate Tsar Bomba October 1961
An unnecessarily large bomb meant for intimidation -
First human spaceflight 12 April 1961
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McNamara proposed idea of counterforce 1962
Heavily criticized as only being preemptive. -
Cuban MIssile Crisis October 16 1962 - October 28 1962
Soviet missiles placed in Cuba, and US missiles in Turkey. End results were the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba and Turkey and the creation of the nuclear hotline. -
Partial Test Ban Treaty 7 October 1963
Did not include China, but the other major world powers agreed to stop testing nuclear bombs anywhere but underground, partially because of the risk of nuclear fallout, and partially to slow the arms race and move towards détente -
US develop MIRV systems 1968
Added great accuracy to missiles -
USSR develop defensive ABM systems 1968
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Non-Proliferation Treaty 5 March 1970
Nations with nuclear capabilities agreed to not spread nuclear weapons and technology to nations without nuclear capabilities -
USSR develop MIRV technology 1975
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Strategic Defense Initiative March 23 1983
Proposed idea of a laser based anti-missile system, would be an end to MAD. Unrealistic technology, but in combination with the failing USSR economy, was enough to end the Cold War