apowerr Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 People often cite figures such as George Washington, Ghandi etc as heroes or saviors. However did those people ever actually prevent the end of civilization? No. But guess who did: Stanislav Petrov. Petrov worked as a Strategic Rocket Colonel for the USSR. In 1983, something big happened: Stanislav Petrov, a Strategic Rocket Forces lieutenant colonel, was the officer on duty at the Serpukhov-15 bunker near Moscow on September 26, 1983. Petrov's responsibilities included observing the satellite early warning network and notifying his superiors of any impending nuclear missile attack against the Soviet Union. If notification was received from the early-warning systems that inbound missiles had been detected, the Soviet Union's strategy was an immediate nuclear counter-attack against the United States (launch on warning), specified in the doctrine of mutual assured destruction.[1] At 00:40, the bunker's computers reported that an intercontinental ballistic missile was heading toward the Soviet Union from the US.[3] Petrov considered the detection a computer error, since a United States first-strike nuclear attack would hypothetically involve hundreds of simultaneous missile launches to disable any Soviet means for a counterattack. Furthermore, the satellite system's reliability had been questioned in the past.[4] Petrov dismissed the warning as a false alarm, though accounts of the event differ as to whether he notified his superiors[5] or not[3] after he concluded that the computer detections were false and that no missile had been launched. Later, the computers identified four additional missiles in the air, all directed towards the Soviet Union. Petrov again suspected that the computer system was malfunctioning, despite having no other source of information to confirm his suspicions. The Soviet Union's land radar was incapable of detecting missiles beyond the horizon, and waiting for it to positively identify the threat would limit the Soviet Union's response time to minutes. Had Petrov reported incoming American missiles, his superiors might have launched an assault against the United States, precipitating a corresponding nuclear response from the United States. Petrov declared the system's indications a false alarm. Later, it was apparent that he was right: no missiles were approaching and the computer detection system was malfunctioning. It was subsequently determined that the false alarms had been created by a rare alignment of sunlight on high-altitude clouds and the satellites' Molniya orbits, an error later corrected with cross-reference to a geostationary satellite.[6] Petrov later indicated the influences in this decision included: that he had been told a US strike would be all-out, so that five missiles seemed an illogical start; that the launch detection system was new and, in his view, not yet wholly trustworthy; and that ground radars were still failing to pick up any corroborative evidence, even after minutes of delay. [7] A hero right? He prevented what could have been an all out nuclear war between the US and USSR. Unfortuently, the Soviet leadership did not appreciate his actions: he had gone against his orders. despite having prevented a potential nuclear disaster by refusing to acknowledge the computer system's warnings, Lt. Col. Petrov stood accused of disobeying his orders and defying military protocol by the manner in which he handled the possible nuclear threat. He later underwent intense questioning by his superiors about his actions during the distressing ordeal, the result of which was that they no longer considered him a reliable military officer. Col. Petrov's commanders blamed him for the incident in the ensuing inquiry and held him responsible for what happened.[8] His actions had revealed imperfections in the Soviet early warning system which showed his superiors in a bad light.[5] He was given a reprimand, officially for the improper filing of paperwork, and his once-promising Soviet military career was permanently ruined. He was reassigned to a less sensitive post, took early retirement and suffered a nervous breakdown.[8] All though he saved the world: Petrov is now a pensioner, spending his retirement in relative poverty (US $200/month pension) in the town of Fryazino.[9] Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the United States. People were thankful of Jesus for 'saving them' and for Soldiers in Iraq because they were 'fighting for their freedom'. Who did I thank: Stanislav {censored} Petrov. Sure, Jesus may have died for your sins; This man had his career ruined and suffered a nervous breakdown so you could be alive today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iRed Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Very nice story my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Marvin Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 ^ ^ Your real saviour Very good though, I think I have heard this story before. Just shows how fragile the world was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aduffbrew Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Just shows how fragile the world was Was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Marvin Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Was? Good point, unfortunately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Impressive. Should we set up a paypal account for him? "For those of you who are glad you didn't grow up in Nuclear winter, please donate $5" Amazing story. That must have taken some serious balls. He should have gone into the porn indrustry with balls like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apowerr Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Amazing story. That must have taken some serious balls.He should have gone into the porn indrustry with balls like that. Haha. He's my hero, shame hes living in near poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(MoC) Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 Amazing Story Funny Nuke Winter line @ Ayanami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trav1085 Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 I am my own savior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apowerr Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 I am my own savior. Nope, Stanislav Petrov is Murrrrry December Twenty Fifth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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