THIS DAY in 1983, the nuclear early-warning radar of the Soviet Union reported the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from USA, with 4 more missiles behind it. 
Lt Col Stanislav Petrov, officer in command of the Soviet Air Defence Forces, decided against strict orders to wait for corroborating evidence — of which none arrived — rather than immediately relaying the warning up the chain-of-command as was procedure.
This decision is seen as having prevented a retaliatory nuclear attack against the United States and its NATO allies, which would likely have resulted in an escalation to a full-scale nuclear war.
Investigation of the satellite warning system later determined that the system had indeed malfunctioned.
Petrov was both disciplined and promoted.
It was subsequently determined that the false alarms were caused by a rare alignment of sunlight on high-altitude clouds.
Petrov was both disciplined and promoted.
It was subsequently determined that the false alarms were caused by a rare alignment of sunlight on high-altitude clouds.
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