Modern Marvels - The Manhattan Project (History Channel)
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DVD Cover Information
Artist: Artist Not ProvidedBrand: A and E Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 50 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-09-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product features:
- At 5:30 a.m., July 16, 1945, scientists and dignitaries awaited the detonation of the first atomic bomb in a desolate area of the New Mexico desert aptly known as Jornada del Muerto--Journey of Death. Dubbed the Manhattan Project, the top-secret undertaking was tackled with unprecedented speed and expense--almost $30-billion in today's dollars. Los Alamos scientists and engineers relate their
Movie Reviews of Modern Marvels - The Manhattan Project (History Channel)
Movie Review: Outstanding!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Manhattan Project" tells the story of America's creation of the atomic bomb. It begins with a Hungarian refugee (Leo Szilard) recognizing the potential havoc Germany's research in this area might wreak (split the atom in 1938), and convincing Albert Einstein to write President Roosevelt in hopes of starting a competing U.S. effort. Roosevelt convened a study group (offices in Manhattan, N.Y. - hence the project's name), but little took place until the U.S. entered the war.
The U.S. first built a reactor (University of Chicago - 1942), while work proceeded on creating sufficient bomb-grade uranium. Three methods were used: 1)Electro-magnetic separation - calutrons produced 10 gms/day, and 1,000+ calutrons were built at Oak Ridge at the Y12 facility. 2)Gaseous diffusion, at the K25 facility - also at Oak Ridge. K25 was one-half mile long, and 1,000 feet wide - the largest building ever constructed. Considerable difficulty was incurred developing a workable diffusion media. 3)Plutonuium creation - via reactors at Hanford, Washington.
Ultimately, the first bombs were created from material produced at Y12 that was then run through the K25 process. The Los Alamos test created a 20 kiloton blast using the implosion method. The first weapon was an implosion devise similar to the Los Alamos test, dropped on Hiroshima with a 12 kt output that killed about 130,000. The second was a gun device dropped on Hiroshima; the device was not tested because of a shortage of material.
Controversy developed over the use of the weapons. A survey revealed that 83% of those involved wanted a demonstration first that would hopefully convince Japan to surrender. General Groves buried the survey and their petition, and proceeded.
Robert Oppenheimer and General Groves emerge as heroic leaders of the enormous construction (eg. 60,000 at Hanford) and research/production efforts (eg. 75,000 at Oak Ridge) involved. Since operations at Oak Ridge required 10% of electricity used by the entire nation - fortunately this was available from the TVA.
Sadly, Oppenheimer's opposition to the H-bomb led to his security clearance being revoked in 1954.
The "good news" is that Japan quickly surrendered, and the level of major-nation warfare dropped from that point on.
Summary of Modern Marvels - The Manhattan Project (History Channel)
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