When we talk about National Security and passwords, we think about encrypted networks or sophisticated passwords that even a professional code breaker could have a tough time to crack. So it’s easy to think that the Override Launch Code for all of the US Nuclear Arsenal would be something along the lines of “l4unch t3h m1ss!|e5″ typed in Chinese, by the US President, with his eyes blind folded… or something even more complicated than that… but up till 1977 the password was 00,00,00,00,00,00.

Meaning that any soldier could effectively go up to the control panel, type in the code, and it would send out an override code to all the launch pads in the US and they could effectively start the nuclear holocaust.

In 1 minute, the US could launch their entire west coast “minute” missiles towards Russia, and in less than 30 minutes, the US, Russia, and China would be launching their Nuclear Stockpile at each other, effectively killing over 100 Million Citizens immediately after impact

The video above is a small clip that was taken from the Movie CTZ or Countdown to Zero it was written and directed by Lucy Walker, and it traces the history of the atomic bomb. From its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possessing nuclear weapons capabilities, with others racing to join them, the world is held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident..Via: CTZ