00000000

Platapus · 11-30-13, 01:14 PM

A nice story, but also not true.

What the author of the article was confusing was the security lockout code, which was set to zeros. This is completely different and separate from any launch code.

The intent was that if a silo was undergoing maintenance, the equipment would be locked out with a combination lock. To ensure that in case of war, that a silo could be operated despite any safety concerns, it was decided that all equipment lockout codes on the launch equipment would be set to all zeros. This would ensure that all maintenance and operations personnel to be able to unlock any locked out equipment.

I would opine that the author of the Gizmodo article is not very knowledgeable in nuclear weapon procedures.

But in his or her defense, this story has been circulating for quite a while and all the authors simply repeat the same confusion between a launch code (which is a combination of letters and numbers) and equipment lockout codes (which are all numbers).

11-30-13, 01:14 PM	#7
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,377 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	A nice story, but also not true. What the author of the article was confusing was the security lockout code, which was set to zeros. This is completely different and separate from any launch code. The intent was that if a silo was undergoing maintenance, the equipment would be locked out with a combination lock. To ensure that in case of war, that a silo could be operated despite any safety concerns, it was decided that all equipment lockout codes on the launch equipment would be set to all zeros. This would ensure that all maintenance and operations personnel to be able to unlock any locked out equipment. I would opine that the author of the Gizmodo article is not very knowledgeable in nuclear weapon procedures. But in his or her defense, this story has been circulating for quite a while and all the authors simply repeat the same confusion between a launch code (which is a combination of letters and numbers) and equipment lockout codes (which are all numbers). __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.