US considered nuking moon during height of Cold War, report says

At the height of the Cold War, the United States considered blowing up the moon to intimidate the Soviets, according to a new report.

Asian News International reports that a secret project, named A Study of Lunar Research Flights' and nicknamed 'Project A119, was seriously considered in the 1950s in an effort to get ahead in the space race.

Under the scenario, a missile carrying a small nuclear bomb would be launched from an undisclosed location and travel 238,000 miles to the moon, where it would be detonated upon impact, intimidating the Soviet Union with a flash from space, according to the report.

The idea was eventually abandoned over concerns from military officials that people on earth might be in danger if the missile missed the moon, according to the report.

When contacted by the Associated Press, the U.S. Air Force declined to comment.