Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Inside the US Nuclear Silos Where Floppy Disk Are Still High-Tech
Gizmodo ^ | April 28, 2014 | Jamie Condliffe

Posted on 04/28/2014 7:48:06 AM PDT by lbryce

It's not very often you get to see inside a US Air Force nuclear silo—but CBS recently got to take a peek for us. In this video, Lesley Stahl finds that they're not quite as high-tech as you might like to think.

This segment, which you can watch below, appeared on 60 Minutes, and it provides a rare glimpse into the inner working of America's nuclear bunkers. Cozying up with the ageing rockets, two things are striking. First, the staff don't seem wildly experienced. Second, the technology down there still relies on 5.25-inch 8-inch floppy disks from the 70s. Thank goodness the nation is so well protected

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nucleardefense; us
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
Right now, I see this article making the rounds of the Duma, Russian Parliament, Putin smiling as he reads it, the entire Russian military complex just having a great old time reading this. All of this just weeks after Russia let us know which country could devastate the US without the capacity for MAD. Well, As Laurel told Hardy or the other way around, that we ought to say to Obama, That's another fine mess you've gotten us into!
1 posted on 04/28/2014 7:48:06 AM PDT by lbryce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: lbryce

Are you kidding? If we are using 5.25 floppies at our nuclear facilities, the Russians are still on magnetic tape reels.


2 posted on 04/28/2014 7:50:38 AM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Yeah. You’re absolutely right. I hadn’t thought of that.
I was wondering why this is being leaked now but you’re point is very well taken.


3 posted on 04/28/2014 7:52:56 AM PDT by lbryce (Barack Hussein Obama:The Worst is Yet to Come)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

The Doomsday Machine


4 posted on 04/28/2014 7:55:25 AM PDT by ThirdMate
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

And the Chinese on ferrite core memory.


5 posted on 04/28/2014 7:55:40 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

I take nothing from SeeBS without thinking of what agenda is behind it.

0’ has been dismantling nukes... unilaterally, firing officers, cutbacks, etc. Something is up here, like sowing the seed for the remainder of collapsing the US nuke deterrence. He needs to get this done within the next 2.5 years...


6 posted on 04/28/2014 7:57:53 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C210N

Ferrite core or an abicus.


7 posted on 04/28/2014 7:58:18 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (zerogottago)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: C210N

The Chinese use abaci.


8 posted on 04/28/2014 7:58:44 AM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

Gee a 25 megaton warhead based on 1950’s techology can still leave a pretty big hole in the ground.


9 posted on 04/28/2014 7:59:58 AM PDT by Fido969 (What's sad is most)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Older technology is often less vulnerable.

The Russians used vacuum tube radios in their MiGs & Sukhois. Impervious to EMP.


10 posted on 04/28/2014 8:00:02 AM PDT by elcid1970
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Nah...they’re still using wire recorders...


11 posted on 04/28/2014 8:00:53 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: C210N

I don’t get it. The first nuke to hit the US would be DC. Even if he’s got advanced warning and gets out of dodge his power base will be gone. Something is definitely up, as you say. Maybe this was the side deal he cut with the Russkies when he told them he’d have more time when he gets re-elected.


12 posted on 04/28/2014 8:08:35 AM PDT by gr8eman (There's no "R" in Warshington!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: lbryce
Whoever allowed this is stupid. And I'm sure Obama had to sign off.

I remember just before the Anthrax hit, they did a big show about Ft. Detrick.

13 posted on 04/28/2014 8:09:05 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

It begs the question...where the heck does the Air Force still get those 8” floppy disks?


14 posted on 04/28/2014 8:10:21 AM PDT by The Great RJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

The technology in the silos is stable and been proven over 50 years. Why change it?


15 posted on 04/28/2014 8:11:33 AM PDT by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lbryce
I think this is GOOD News.
They are so old there is no way in HELL they will be hacked into.
16 posted on 04/28/2014 8:12:57 AM PDT by Falcon4.0
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman
We don't use 5.25" floppies. In the original article, it says "still relies on 5.25-inch 8-inch floppy disks from the 70s." The author was making the point that we don't even use 5.25" floppies.


17 posted on 04/28/2014 8:13:13 AM PDT by Scoutmaster (I'd rather be at Philmont)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

60s technology got us to the moon. Now we can't even get back to our own space station.

18 posted on 04/28/2014 8:15:24 AM PDT by caligatrux (...some animals are more equal than others.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lbryce

Thank God they use old technology. with all of the vulnerabilities of modern day software the last thing we need is to hook these silos up to the internet or some other thing that you just know someone is pushing for just by the very existence of this report


19 posted on 04/28/2014 8:16:11 AM PDT by Shamrock498
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

SeeBS should have left this alone until FUBO is gone! Now he will probably hire his wife’s black female college “friend” from Canada to “develop” a new missile control system patterned after her “innovative and reliable” Healthcare website! If the Russians hear that’s going on, they will probably attack!


20 posted on 04/28/2014 8:16:51 AM PDT by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson