Norwegian rocket incident facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
A Black Brant XII rocket similar to the one that was involved in the incident.
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 Location of Andøya Rocket Range, the launch site of the missile.
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| Date | 25 January 1995 (31 years ago) |
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| Duration | 0:24:00 |
| Cause | Launch of a Black Brant XII rocket from the Andøya Rocket Range in Norway. |
| Participants | |
| Outcome | Russian nuclear forces put on high alert for approximately eight minutes before standing down. |
On January 25, 1995, something unexpected happened that caused a big scare. Scientists from Norway and the United States launched a special rocket called a Black Brant XII. This rocket was sent from the Andøya Rocket Range in Norway. Its mission was to study the beautiful Northern Lights over Svalbard.
The rocket flew very high, reaching about 1,453 kilometers (903 miles) into space. Its path looked very similar to a powerful Trident missile launched from a submarine. This caused a serious misunderstanding for Russian radar operators. They thought it might be an attack.
Russian military forces became highly alert. The "nuclear briefcase" was even brought to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. He had to quickly decide if Russia should respond. Luckily, Russian experts soon realized it was not an attack, and no response was ordered.
This event, known as the Norwegian rocket incident, was a moment of high tension. It happened just a few years after the Cold War ended. Many people in Russia, especially in the military, were still cautious about the United States and NATO. This quick incident is remembered as one of the most serious close calls during that time.
Contents
The Norwegian Rocket Incident
A Rocket Launch Causes Alarm
As the Black Brant XII rocket climbed higher, it was spotted by a Russian early-warning radar station. This station was in Olenegorsk, a region in Murmansk Oblast. The radar operators saw the rocket moving fast and in a way that looked just like a Trident missile launched from a US Navy submarine.
Because of this, the Russian military first thought the rocket's path meant a possible attack was starting. They believed it could be a warning sign of missiles coming from submarines.
Why the Confusion Happened
One reason for the alarm was a specific fear. Military experts thought the rocket might be a special kind of missile. This missile could carry a device to create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). An EMP could block or confuse radars and electronic equipment. If this happened, it would make it hard for Russia to see other incoming missiles. This was seen as a possible first step in a surprise attack.
The Rocket's Appearance
After parts of the rocket separated, it looked on radar like several objects. This made it even harder for the Russian control center to understand what was happening. They did not immediately know that the scientific rocket was flying away from Russia, towards the sea.
It took 8 minutes to track the rocket's path. This was a very short time, as a real missile from the Barents Sea could reach Russia in just 10 minutes. This left very little time to decide if a response was needed.
The Importance of Communication
The scientists had actually told thirty countries, including Russia, about their rocket launch. They sent this information well in advance to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, there was a big mistake. The message about the launch never reached the Russian military or the radar operators.
An anonymous Russian general later explained the problem. He said the message was meant to "notify sea-farers" about a weather rocket. Russian officials took this too literally. So, only sailors knew about it, not the military. After this incident, everyone realized how important clear communication is. They changed how they share information about such launches to prevent future misunderstandings.
See also
- List of nuclear close calls
- Able Archer 83
- Dr. Strangelove
