The US Military Created a Secret Ring of 480 Million Copper Needles Around Earth’s Atmosphere
In 1963, the US military attempted to solve a Cold War communication crisis by scattering 480 million copper needles into orbit — and Project West Ford actually worked, even as scientists worldwide scrambled to stop it. Decades later, those needles are still circling Earth, making this one of the most audacious and controversial secret experiments in military history.
Claudia Williams
April 4, 2026