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Using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on a match is a simple experiment many children have tried. But during World War II, the Nazis may have taken this idea to an extreme, envisioning a powerful weapon known as a "solar gun" that could change the course of the war.
This intriguing concept was featured in the 1945 issue of *Life* magazine. According to the article, U.S. military experts had uncovered secret Nazi plans to develop a massive lens placed in Earth’s orbit. By concentrating sunlight, the device could potentially destroy enemy cities or even boil entire sections of the ocean. The idea, though futuristic at the time, was described as both terrifying and visionary.
The plan originally came from Hermann Oberth, a pioneering German rocket scientist. In 1923, he first proposed the idea of using large mirrors in space to harness solar energy. The project was estimated to cost 3 million marks and take 15 years to complete. Initially, it was meant for peaceful purposes—providing energy to humanity. However, by the 1950s, Oberth still believed the concept could one day become real, though he also acknowledged its potential as a devastating weapon.
*Life* magazine reported that Allied forces discovered these plans shortly after the end of World War II. Though no official records confirm the program, the magazine suggested that the Nazis were capable of launching a giant mirror into geostationary orbit, some 22,236 miles above Earth. While there’s no evidence of actual construction, the idea sparked serious discussions about the future of space-based technology.
The magazine also detailed how such a space mirror might be built. It would require a space station equipped with a massive 30-foot hole, serving as a docking point for rockets. Once launched, the rockets would extend cables as the station rotated, forming a circular frame. This structure would then support the installation of the giant mirror, paving the way for a new era of space engineering.
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