Atomic weapon

An atomic weapon (also known as an atomic bomb, A-bomb, nuclear weapon, or more commonly nuke or nuclear device) was a term that generally described a device developed by Humans and other species that utilized the principles of either or both of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion to release massive destructive energies. A relatively low-yield atomic weapon could, for example, destroy a small city. The near-ground detonation of a nuclear weapon could produce a mushroom-shaped cloud and the subsequent radioactive contamination of the surrounding areas could cause radiation sickness and other health problems. Sufficient use of atomic weapons could also result in a sudden reduction in overall planetary temperatures due to particulate matter in the atmosphere, called a "nuclear winter". (TNG: "A Matter Of Time"; VOY: "Dragon's Teeth", "Friendship One")

Many cultures have used atomic weapons. Vulcans developed and used nuclear weapons widely in the wars leading up to the Time of Awakening around the year 350, devastating their civilization. (ENT: "Awakening") The Talosian society was effectively destroyed by the use of atomic weapons. (TOS: "The Cage") A jet plane from the United States of America on Earth that was sent to intercept the USS Enterprise in 1969 was thought by Spock to potentially have missiles armed with nuclear warheads. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday") The planet Ekos fired a thermonuclear missile at the USS Enterprise in 2268. (TOS: "Patterns of Force") Weapons considered by 23rd century Starfleet to be "atomic" (possibly atomic bombs) were used in the Earth-Romulan War. (TOS: "Balance of Terror") Elasians used nuclear sidearms. (TOS: "Elaan of Troyius")

Earth, especially, saw both development and use of atomic weapons. Combat usage was at first confined for over one hundred years to only two nuclear weapons used by the United States of America on Japan at the end of the Second World War, including the bomb, code-named, "Fat Man". Because of the weapon's destructive power, though, countless amounts of nuclear weapons were produced and tested (such as at Bikini Atoll) between 1945-1990, mostly by the US and the Soviet Union. (ENT: "Proving Ground")

During this period, which became known as the Cold War, mankind was constantly on the brink of self-annihilation through, among other atomic weapon delivery systems, orbiting nuclear devices. (TOS: "Assignment: Earth"; ENT: "Carbon Creek") A colloquial phrase during this time was to "push the button", meaning that government powers had the ability to instantly launch nuclear weapons at each other, annihilating civilization in the process, without the population even realizing it until the nuclear exchange had already occurred. A song of the 1980s expounded upon this notion, stating that, in such a nuclear exchange, the only choice the public would have would be "how many megatons". (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Terrans also developed atomic weapons in the mirror universe. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly" opening credits)

Quark, Rom, Nog, and Odo were able to experience a test of an atomic weapon when they were accidentally transported to 1947 Earth. There they harnessed the beta radiation released by an atomic bomb test in the Nevada desert to return to the 24th century. The Ferengi never tested atomic weapons on their own planet, much less actually used them in combat, and Quark was shocked at the "stupidity" of Humans for polluting their own planet with atomic testing. (DS9: "Little Green Men")

In the 1950s, some Earth powers developed another type of nuclear weapon known as hydrogen bombs. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")

The Third World War was described as a nuclear cataclysm. Six hundred million were killed, most major cities were destroyed, and there were few governments left. Indiana was targeted in 2053. (Star Trek: First Contact; DIS: "New Eden") In the aftermath, there was the post-atomic horror, and radioactive isotopes resulting from the conflict remained in the atmosphere a decade later. But in a great irony, Zefram Cochrane's first successful faster-than-light vessel manned by Humans was launched using the remnants of a nuclear missile. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint"; Star Trek: First Contact)

By the mid 23rd century, advances in hull materials technology led to nuclear weapons losing their tactical significance in ship-to-ship combat. Romulan Birds-of-Prey employed them solely as self-destruct devices, and such a warhead detonated point blank in front of a starship without shields raised, caused relatively light casualties as well as temporary electrical disruption. (TOS: "Balance of Terror") Against a seriously damaged Constitution-class starship, with only secondary systems operative, a single hit from a 20th century nuclear missile could cause severe damage. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday") Low-yield nuclear weapons were still used, such as cobalt bombs, which produced an explosion 1/10,000th of the yield of an ounce of antimatter. (TOS: "Obsession")

Until the Enterprise's 2259 discovery of the Kiley using warp in the form of a warp bomb, Science Officer Spock stated that not once in the entire history of first contact had warp been first developed as anything but a drive. Spock compared it to inventing the nuclear bomb before particle physics; that it could happen but it simply never had. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

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Background information[]

According to Daniel C. Carlson and Harry Doddema, who provided the name for the Vulcan material vokaya, it was formed in the planet's nuclear wars, similar to the Earth mineral trinitite.

Related topics[]

• Cobalt fusion warhead
• Cobalt-thorium device
• Hydrogen bomb
• Subatomic disruptor
• Weapons-grade material

Apocrypha[]

In the game Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, some time in the 1260s a conflict between two rival societies, the capitalist-like Lucrs and the Communist-like Sofs, led to a war with atomic weapons which devastated their planet, Alpha Proxima III.

External links[]

• Nuclear weapon at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Nuclear weapon at Wikipedia
• Nuclear explosive at Wikipedia