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Post by beth on Jul 9, 2010 7:15:46 GMT -5
A very busy year. 1941 February 26: Conclusive discovery of plutonium by Glenn Seaborg and Arthur Wahl.
May 17: A report by Arthur Compton and the National Academy of Sciences is issued which finds favorable the prospects of developing nuclear power production for military use. Vannevar Bush creates the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
July 15: The MAUD Committee issues final detailed technical report on design and costs to develop a bomb. Advance copy sent to Vannevar Bush who decides to wait for official version before taking any action
August: Mark Oliphant travels to USA to urge development of a bomb rather than power production [1]
October 3: Official copy of MAUD Report reaches Bush
October 9: Bush takes MAUD Report to Roosevelt who approves project to confirm MAUD's findings
December 6: Vannevar Bush holds a meeting to organize an accelerated research project, still managed by Arthur Compton. Harold Urey is assigned to develop research into gaseous diffusion as a uranium enrichment method, while Ernest O. Lawrence is assigned to investigate electromagnetic separation methods.
December 7: The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. The United States issues a formal declaration of war against Japan the next day. Four days later, Nazi Germany declares war on the United States.
December 18: First meeting of the OSRD sponsored S-1 project, dedicated to developing fission weapons.
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