George Kistiakowsky

(1900-1982)

Director - Implosion Program

Project "Y"

Born in Russia in 1900, he was one of the scientists at Los Alamos who had experienced combat. During the Russian Revolution he fought in the infantry and the tank corp of the White Army. After the Bolsheviks assumed power in Russia, Kistiakowsky fled to Germany. There he studied chemistry at the University of Berlin, receiving his Ph. D. in 1925. Upon moving to the United States, he joined the faculty at Harvard.

Kistiakowsky joined the Manhattan Project in late January 1944. He had been studying explosives for the National Defense Research Committee. Having replaced Seth Neddermeyer as lead on the implosion program, Kistiakowsky had over 600 people working on the problem by the spring of 1945.

Under his leadership, they were able to develop the complex explosive lenses needed to compress the plutonium sphere uniformly to achieve critical mass.

After the war, Kistiakowsky returned to Harvard. His advised several presidents on arms control and foreign policy. He retired from Harvard as professor emeritus in 1972, and he died in 1982.

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George Kistiakowsky

Kistiakowsky joined the Manhattan Project in late January 1944. He had been studying explosives for the National Defense Research Committee. Having replaced Seth Neddermeyer as lead on the implosion program, Kistiakowsky had over 600 people working on the problem by the spring of 1945.

Under his leadership, they were able to develop the complex explosive lenses needed to compress the plutonium sphere uniformly to achieve critical mass.

After the war, Kistiakowsky returned to Harvard. His advised several presidents on arms control and foreign policy. He retired from Harvard as professor emeritus in 1972, and he died in 1982.

Send mail to support@childrenofthemanhattanproject.org with questions or comments about this web site.

Created using Microsoft FrontPage 2002
Last modified: August 03, 2005

George Kistiakowsky

Kistiakowsky joined the Manhattan Project in late January 1944. He had been studying explosives for the National Defense Research Committee. Having replaced Seth Neddermeyer as lead on the implosion program, Kistiakowsky had over 600 people working on the problem by the spring of 1945.

Under his leadership, they were able to develop the complex explosive lenses needed to compress the plutonium sphere uniformly to achieve critical mass.

After the war, Kistiakowsky returned to Harvard. His advised several presidents on arms control and foreign policy. He retired from Harvard as professor emeritus in 1972, and he died in 1982.

Send mail to support@childrenofthemanhattanproject.org with questions or comments about this web site.

Created using Microsoft FrontPage 2002 Last modified: August 03, 2005

Created using Microsoft FrontPage 2002
Last modified: August 03, 2005