Publication Laka-library:
Red atom (1999)
| Author | P.R.Josephson |
| Date | 1999 |
| Classification | 2.34.0.00/21 (RUSSIA - GENERAL) |
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From the publication:
SCIENCE/HISTORY RED ATOM Russia’s nuclear Power Program from Stalin to Today Paul R. Josephson In 1956, the head of the Soviet atomic bomb project presented a stunning vision of his country's future- a time when giant reactors would generate energy quickly and cheaply, when nuclear engines would power cars, ships, and airplanes, and when peaceful nuclear explosions would transform the landscape to fit the country's agricultural and industrial needs. Driven by the energy of the atom, the dream of communism would become a powerful reality. Thirty years later, that dream died for good in the rubble of Chernobyl - a tragedy that ultimately came to symbolize the failure of Soviet rule and the bankruptcy of communism. What went wrong? Based on rare archival research and interviews, Red Atom takes a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the Soviet Union's peaceful use of nuclear power. It explores the bomb projects, reactor "parks," nuclear engines, and radioisotope tests that reflected a society-wide enthusiasm for science and technology. It also introduces the men behind the machines - the physicists and scientists who formed on arrogant technocratic elite - as well as the politicians who were dedicated to increasing the power of the state at the expense of the people. Finally, Red Atom describes the political, economic, and environmental fallout of Chernobyl, and examines the future of atomic energy in Russia. A story of big science run amok, Red Atom illuminates the problems that con befall any society heavily invested in forge-scale technology.
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