
At 5:30 a.m. July 16 1945 scientists and dignitaries awaited the detonation of the first atomic bomb in a desolate area of the New Mexico desert aptly known as Jornada del Muerto-Journey of Death. Dubbed the Manhattan Project the top-secret undertaking was tackled with unprecedented speed and expense-almost $30-billion in today's dollars. Los Alamos scientists and engineers relate their trials triumphs and dark doubts about building the ultimate weapon of war in the interest of peace.