Burning the Sky

Operation Argus and the Untold Story of the Cold War Nuclear Tests in Outer Space

By: Mark Wolverton

Narrated by: John Lescault

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

After the Soviet Union proved to the United States that it possessed an operational intercontinental ballistic missile with the launch of Sputnik in October 1957, the world watched anxiously as the two superpowers engaged in a game of nuclear one-upmanship. Amid this rising tension, eccentric physicist Nicholas Christofilos brought forth an outlandish, albeit ingenious, idea to defend the US from a Soviet attack: detonating nuclear warheads in space to create an artificial radiation belt that would fry incoming ICBMs. Known as Operation Argus, this plan is the most secret and riskiest experiment in history, and classified details of these nuclear tests have been long obscured.

Combining his investigation of recently declassified documents with more than a decade of experience in researching and writing about the science of the Cold War, Mark Wolverton tells the unknown and controversial story of this scheme, chronicling Christofilos' unconventional idea from inception to execution, and examines the scientific, political, and environmental implications of Argus, as well as that of the atmospheric tests that followed.

Burning the Sky is an engrossing audiobook that will intrigue any lover of scientific or military history and will remind listeners why Project Argus remains frighteningly relevant nearly 60 years later.

©2018 Mark Wolverton (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Excellent History

This book looks at a very little known testing program in the early days of ballistic missile defense, using high altitude nuclear explosions to potentially create an atmospheric barrier. With an almost journalistic style, the author goes in-depth into the scientific ideas, but more importantly the personalities and politics of the late 1950s into the early 70s. Fascinating listen on the controversies of the times and the science that proved to be off base.

Liked it, and didn't

I really enjoyed the first couple chapters, about Christofilos, but then this book took a strange turn. Kind-of all-over-the-map, like a bunch of historical facts in search of a story-line requiring me to figure out what was important. By the end, felt like a sausage grinder loaded with facts.

fantastic

this historical account is one of the best I've ever listened to. its a must have in the library.

Great Listen

I grew up in the era. Parents worked at Los Alamos. I recall some of the names. Fills some holes fro that time

Extreme detail Argus & beyond

It was good to learn more about Dr James van Allen and his role in this effort.

Fascinating and under-reported

Amazing story, well written and well produced. A fascinating section of history that few know about. Must read.

Best Sleep Aid in Existence

The Story is compelling and at times captivating, however there never is a single reward. I give Full stars for my heading and the excellent consistency of the narrator whose performance is flawless.

Fascinating

Great backgrounding for understanding the state of modern warfare. It could have been very dry going but the text and narration made it more lively and engaging than I expected.

Excellent..... EXCELLENT LISTEN!!!

For the science minded, those that worked as Cold War Worrier's, those who are interested in the Nuclear Age and how we got to where we are today....This is one book I'd certainly recommend.

Very interesting, but not very entertaining

This was not a bad read. The story was very interesting and it is one that I had never heard before. I thought that the author was much like Stephen King, another author I like a lot, but who I think must get paid by the word. In other words, it might have been a better book overall if it had been about half as long. The narrator was not very interesting to listen to either. Not bad, but not great. But for the story alone, it's a good read.