alastair philip wiper captures the unexpected connection between nuclear missiles and drugs

Alastair Philip Wiper Photographs the Titan II Nuclear Missile

In his latest photography series, Drugs and Missiles, Alastair Philip Wiper turns his lens on Titan II, the largest and heaviest missile ever built by the United States. The new project not only reveals the rocket’s design, but also draws a thought-provoking connection between nuclear weapons and drug use. As the photographer shares in the project description, American journalist and author Eric Schlosser reports in his book Command and Control that ‘of the roughly 114,000 people who’d been cleared to work with nuclear weapons in 1980, only 1.5 percent lost that clearance because of drug abuse’. By capturing both the intricate interior and the imposing exterior, this photographic exploration illuminates the surreal and unexpected intersection of two seemingly disparate realms.

Alastair Philip Wiper’s images of the Titan II find a place in the book Building Stories, where he delves into the concealed narratives in the realm of architecture. From the childhood home of Steve Jobs to the lavatory of a deceased Albanian dictator, Wiper uncovers stories that transcend the ordinary. Explore more about the book in designboom’s previous coverage, here.

Titan II nuclear missile in its silo | all images courtesy of Alastair Philip Wiper

Drugs in the Nuclear Sphere: Unveiling a Troubling Nexus

As Alastair Philip Wiper explains in Drugs and Missiles, there is a compelling argument for the main danger posed by nuclear weapons: the unintended risk of self-destruction. History is full of declassified cases, from planes accidentally crashing with nuclear payloads to governments mistaking computer simulations of war for actual events. The accidental release of weapons through human error, such as pulling the wrong handle, and the explosion of missile silos underscore this vulnerability. ‘Once, a bear climbing the fence of an Air Force base was mistaken for Russian special forces beginning an invasion,’ shares the photographer. ‘And then there are the drugs.’

In Eric Schlosser’s book Command and Control, it’s revealed that of the individuals authorized to handle nuclear weapons in 1980, 1.5% lost their clearance due to drug abuse, totaling at least 1,728 individuals who were caught using drugs in proximity to nuclear weapons. Fast forward to 2016, a disconcerting reality unfolded as over a dozen Air Force members responsible for safeguarding nuclear missiles were convicted of both using and distributing substances such as LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana. This juxtaposition underscores the persistent and concerning intersection between drug use and the guardianship of powerful weaponry.

second stage rocket engine of Titan II nuclear missile

Marijuana in the Titan II Missile Silo

In 1977, an intriguing discovery unfolded in the control center of a Titan II missile silo, located approximately 40 miles south of Tucson, Arizona—two ‘marijuana cigarettes’ were found. This particular silo, housing the Titan II nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile, carried the most potent nuclear warhead ever constructed by the United States. Boasting a staggering 9 megatons, it wielded a destructive power approximately 600 times greater than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Operating between 1963 and 1987, a total of 54 missiles were maintained on a continuous 24-hour alert, 365 days per year, strategically positioned across Arizona, Arkansas, and Kansas.

The launch sequence took 58 seconds, and the time taken to hit its target in the Soviet Union was about 30 minutes, with the rocket travelling at 26,000 kph. The rocket was 32m long. A 9-megaton blast would result in a fireball with an approximate 5km diameter. The radiated heat would be sufficient to cause lethal burns to any unprotected person within a 32 km radius. Alastair Philip Wiper’s photography series amplifies this historical context, making viewers thnk about what could potentially happen when a person under the influence handles such power.

‘The Minuteman missile replaced the Titan II, and there are currently 400 Minuteman III missiles, each with a 170-kiloton warhead, ‘on alert’ at air force bases in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana,’ says Alastair Philip Wiper. ‘Keep your fingers crossed.’

launch control center of Titan II nuclear missile silo, Arizona, USA – this is where WW3 would have started

the bridge between the control room and the launch duct

rocket fuel handler’s coverall suits (Refco) at a Titan II nuclear missile silo, Arizona, USA – the fuels and oxidizers used in the rockets were extremely dangerous, and technicians spent a year just learning how to work in these suits

Titan II nuclear missile in its silo

rocket fuel holding tanker

the silo from above with door partially open

missile combat crew rest area – four crew members worked 24-hour shifts in the silo

missile combat crew rest area

the key that needs to be turned to launch a nuclear missile at the launch control centre – another key needed to be turned by someone else simultaneously in another part of the room