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Russia Releases "Tsar Bomba" Test Footage Of The Most Powerful Nuclear Bomb Blast Ever
The nuclear bomb, codenamed "Ivan," that was dropped by the Soviet Union over Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean on October 30, 1961, was the largest device of its kind ever detonated. The monstrous weapon had a yield of around 50 megatons — equivalent to 50 million tons of TNT. Until now, the available imagery of that test has been strictly limited, consisting of short, grainy clips and poor-quality stills.
The colossal Ivan device was developed under a program known as izdeliye 202 (meaning "product 202", otherwise known simply as "V"). Years later, when more details became known about it in the West, the weapon would be dubbed "Tsar Bomba."
On August 20, 2020, the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation — the Russian state concern responsible for nuclear enterprises, including nuclear weapons — released a 30-minute documentary film on its official YouTube channel showing the test in unprecedented detail, from the initial transport of the device itself to the mushroom cloud that later rose some 6.2 miles over the Arctic archipelago. The release of the film coincides with the 75th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry — although a thermonuclear bomb popularly described in the West as a "doomsday weapon" was perhaps an unusual choice for the commemoration. Regardless, it was a remarkable technological achievement.
Test of a clean hydrogen bomb with a yield of 50 megatons (40m28s video). Detonation footage starts after 22:40, with more footage after the end of the documentary starting at 29:32.
Wikipedia entry for Tsar Bomba.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 26 2020, @12:11AM (8 children)
That was quite interesting, on several levels. First, it was neat to see the Soviet propaganda style. Second, it was fun to test knowledge of Russian. Third, it was fascinating how little impact the detonation actually had on the landscape. It was the most devastating explosion in human history, but they made it seem as mundane as throwing a grenade.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @02:54AM
You see the disconnect there, right?
(Score: 2) by deimios on Wednesday August 26 2020, @05:31AM (3 children)
Quote from the video: "The task of the test was not to study the destructive effect of the shockwave, therefore there are no specially erected structures, and no military equipment in the testing site."
So it was intentional, question is why thought.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday August 26 2020, @07:24AM (2 children)
To show that Russian dicks were bigger than American dicks.
Also to coincide with the 22nd congress of the CPSU, which occurred a few days earlier.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday August 26 2020, @12:43PM (1 child)
Then you might as well just claim that it was to celebrate or have it coincide with the 44 year anniversary of the October Revolution, that was just the week before or after depending on which calendar is used. That is normally when they have that big military parade on Red square and they parade around all their military might and prowess. To show of a 50 megaton hydrogen bomb would probably have been up there.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday August 26 2020, @12:51PM
Except that since it's an abstract event that occurred 5,000km away you can mention it in a speech at the CPSU congress but can't really do much with it in a military parade.
(Score: 4, Informative) by rleigh on Wednesday August 26 2020, @07:58AM (2 children)
This wasn't "propoganda" for public consumption, it was purely for internal consumption from the look of things. It wasn't particularly jingoistic. Overall, I quite liked the effort they put into the cinematography and background shots, as well as the shots of the technology of the era. The overall impression I got was a well practised military machine carrying out a well planned exercise which went off without a hitch and little drama while demanding very exact timing to coordinate all the recording. Just people doing their jobs. If anything, it was interesting that their officers and people weren't that much different than our own.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 26 2020, @12:48PM (1 child)
It was still propaganda, even if the audience was not the general public. It was highly produced to achieve that clean, crisp feel. There was not a hair out of place, and even the test camp on the island was swept clean. It reminded me quite a bit of sections of Triumph of the Will, such as the silent assembly of thousands at Nuremberg stadium while Hitler, Himmler, and Lutze walk down the aisle.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:21PM
Mmm, nothing else quite has that clean, crisp feel of authoritarian propaganda. Sharp suits, bright colors, smiling faces, white teeth, rotting corpses.