Luke LaManna

But as he sipped a cup of tea and chatted with a colleague, an alarm suddenly blared. The persistent noise was jarring and didn't sound like the usual exercise signal. Petrov looked up at a monitor. Large red letters flashed over a white background with a clear and frightening message. Launch. His eyes shot from the screen to the other analysts.

They were all staring up at him, wondering what to do. For a moment, Petrov couldn't move. He was shocked. The message meant a satellite had picked up an incoming missile from a base on the west coast of the United States. Petrov forced himself into action. He ordered everyone to check their systems, and the men scrambled to confirm the American launch.

They were all staring up at him, wondering what to do. For a moment, Petrov couldn't move. He was shocked. The message meant a satellite had picked up an incoming missile from a base on the west coast of the United States. Petrov forced himself into action. He ordered everyone to check their systems, and the men scrambled to confirm the American launch.

Petrov's heart raced as his team confirmed both the main computer and its backup were functioning correctly. Then, as abruptly as they had begun, the alarms fell silent and the message vanished. Petrov was confused but relieved. Then the banner on the main screen suddenly changed once again. Now it flashed the words, Missile Attack. Missile Attack. Petrov silently cursed.

Petrov's heart raced as his team confirmed both the main computer and its backup were functioning correctly. Then, as abruptly as they had begun, the alarms fell silent and the message vanished. Petrov was confused but relieved. Then the banner on the main screen suddenly changed once again. Now it flashed the words, Missile Attack. Missile Attack. Petrov silently cursed.

He needed visual proof from the satellites that a missile had actually been launched. Normally, a ballistic missile is visible to the satellites for the first three minutes after it launches. But as he searched the satellite imagery, he saw nothing. No flashes, no fire, no contrails in the sky. The alarm had to be a mistake.

He needed visual proof from the satellites that a missile had actually been launched. Normally, a ballistic missile is visible to the satellites for the first three minutes after it launches. But as he searched the satellite imagery, he saw nothing. No flashes, no fire, no contrails in the sky. The alarm had to be a mistake.

Petrov picked up the phone and reported back to the military command center that a missile launch had been detected but he believed that it was a false alarm. He and his team reset the launch detection system. It was silence as everyone waited for it to restart. Seconds later, the alarm blared again, this time indicating a second launch had been detected. Was Petrov's gut wrong?

Petrov picked up the phone and reported back to the military command center that a missile launch had been detected but he believed that it was a false alarm. He and his team reset the launch detection system. It was silence as everyone waited for it to restart. Seconds later, the alarm blared again, this time indicating a second launch had been detected. Was Petrov's gut wrong?

He had his team reset the system again to be sure, but the alarm went off yet again. Now three incoming American missiles had been detected, But still Petrov had not confirmed visual observations of any of them. As Petrov stood in the bunker, terrified, a fourth missile and then a fifth were detected. The alarm seared into his brain. His men were all looking to him for their orders.

He had his team reset the system again to be sure, but the alarm went off yet again. Now three incoming American missiles had been detected, But still Petrov had not confirmed visual observations of any of them. As Petrov stood in the bunker, terrified, a fourth missile and then a fifth were detected. The alarm seared into his brain. His men were all looking to him for their orders.

Petrov willed himself to concentrate. He knew American Minuteman missiles traveled at four miles per second. So if these launches were real, the first American warhead would reach Russia in about eight minutes, potentially killing hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions. He knew that's how long he had to make a decision. Eight minutes.

Petrov willed himself to concentrate. He knew American Minuteman missiles traveled at four miles per second. So if these launches were real, the first American warhead would reach Russia in about eight minutes, potentially killing hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions. He knew that's how long he had to make a decision. Eight minutes.

He also knew that if he reacted by sending missiles of his own, it could mean annihilation for tens of millions of people around the world. Nuclear winter could follow, which would mean darkness and extreme cold, global crop failures and widespread famine. He glanced at the clock. By this point, he had just three minutes left to decide.

He also knew that if he reacted by sending missiles of his own, it could mean annihilation for tens of millions of people around the world. Nuclear winter could follow, which would mean darkness and extreme cold, global crop failures and widespread famine. He glanced at the clock. By this point, he had just three minutes left to decide.

Would America really start a war by launching just a few of their thousands of nuclear warheads? Petrov had always been told a first strike would be massive. It didn't make sense. He felt paralyzed, but his training demanded action. The mantra drilled into every Soviet officer echoed in his mind. We do our duty. The room was silent. All eyes were on Petrov.

Would America really start a war by launching just a few of their thousands of nuclear warheads? Petrov had always been told a first strike would be massive. It didn't make sense. He felt paralyzed, but his training demanded action. The mantra drilled into every Soviet officer echoed in his mind. We do our duty. The room was silent. All eyes were on Petrov.

Just one minute remained until the first strike. He calculated the odds in his head. The computer showed missiles. The visuals did not. Finally, Petrov made his decision. There were too many confounding factors. He didn't want to be responsible for starting a third world war if the alarms were wrong. With just seconds left to strike, he shut his eyes and bowed his head to brace for the impact.

Just one minute remained until the first strike. He calculated the odds in his head. The computer showed missiles. The visuals did not. Finally, Petrov made his decision. There were too many confounding factors. He didn't want to be responsible for starting a third world war if the alarms were wrong. With just seconds left to strike, he shut his eyes and bowed his head to brace for the impact.

But it never came. Petrov opened his eyes. There was no strike. There were no missiles. He had made the right call. Petrov's story illustrates how an ordinary person can make an extraordinary decision. He demonstrated calm, rational thinking in a moment of profound crisis.