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Albert Einstein writes President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
alerting the President to the importance of research on nuclear chain reactions and the possibility that research might lead to developing powerful bombs. Einstein notes that Germany has stopped the sale of uranium and German physicists are engaged in uranium research. -
Period: to
1939-1969
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Roosevelt establishes the Office of Petroleum Coordinator for National Defense
later the Petroleum Administration for War, to issue rules governing the production, transportation, and distribution of petroleum and petroleum products. -
Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves
head of the Manhattan Engineer District, selects Oak Ridge, Tennessee, site for facilities to produce nuclear materials. Isotope separation of uranium235 takes place in the gaseous diffusion plant built in the K-25 area of the site, in the electromagnetic plant in the Y-12 area, and in the liquid thermal diffusion plant. A pilot pile (reactor) and plutonium separation facility are built and operated at the X-10 area. -
Congress
Congress passes the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act authorizing the Bureau of Mines to build energy research laboratories. -
Japan
The implosion model plutonium bomb, called Fat Man, is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Five days later, Japan surrenders. -
Atomic Energy Act
In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, all atomic energy activities are transferred to the newly created Atomic Energy Commission. -
Thermonuclear Weapon
President Truman instructs the Atomic Energy Commission to expedite development of a thermonuclear weapon. -
Mike
The Atomic Energy Commission detonates the first thermonuclear device, code-named "Mike," at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific. The device explodes with a yield of 10.4 megatons. -
NASA
The Soviet Union successfully launches Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite. Marking the dawn of the Space Age, the event pushes the US government into action and leads to the formation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration. -
California Oil Spill
An oil platform six miles off the Santa Barbara, California, coast suffers a blowout, releasing 200,000 gallons of crude oil and creating an 800 square mile oil slick.
