Summary: In the second part of our two part Star Trek marathon, we continue to boldly overanalyze what no one had deemed necessary to overanalyze before: the nuclear nonsense in the fail Star Trek spin-off pilot, Assignment: Earth. Why did countries think it was a good idea to put nuclear weapons in space? What does it look like when a nuke goes off in the vacuum of space? Is it still okay these days to name your cat Isis? With the continued help of our special guest and Star Trek enthusiast Gabe, we answer these questions and more. Before we attempt a gravitational slingshot maneuver around the sun to travel back in time, we recommended reading Outer Space in World Politics, an edited volume organized by Joseph Goldsen in 1963, especially the chapter by renowned nuclear deterrence scholar, Thomas Schelling, on "The Military Use of Bombardment Satellites." Also, check out Space Weapons, Earth Wars, a RAND Study prepared for the USAF in 2002 by Bob Preston, Dana Johnson, Sean Edwards, Michael Miller, Calvin Shipbaugh, http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/2011/RAND_MR1209.pdf. Other sources to check out include: -Space Nuclear Weapon Test, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKvvrNrCOnw -Space Nuclear Weapon Detonation EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpTvqLfvLKU -The Unexpected Effects of Nukes in Space, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRhStl7SQnM -Minuteman 1 ICBM Air Launch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7SQ546xRk -ICBM Basing Modes, ArmsControlWonk, June 12, 2012, http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/205397/icbm-basing-modes/ -Robert Richardson, "Rocket Blitz From the Moon," Collier's Weekly, October 28, 1948, https://www.unz.org/Pub/Colliers-1948oct23-00024 We aim to have at least one new episode every month. Let us know what you think about the podcast and any ideas you may have about future episodes and guests by reaching out at on Twitter @NuclearPodcast, Facebook, GooglePlay, YouTube, or SuperCriticalPodcast@gmail.com.
