Stanislav Petrov

Many people have not heard of one of the greatest heroes of all time. Stanislav Petrov, a world hero, avoided a catastrophe that would have shaken the Earth for many centuries to come. He was a hero because he was courageous, intelligent, and lucky. Although he did one of the greatest deeds of all time, he is one of the most unsung heroes of all time.

Stanislav Petrov was a very courageous man. He was faced with the ultimate decision and persevered to the right one. It was 1983 and Stanislav's duty was to detect nuclear attacks for the Russian military through computers and satellites. One day, there was a warning of one missile being launched from one base, and then another from the same base, which gradually increased to 5. He decided the warnings were false even after having the whole computer checked. He concluded that a nuclear war wouldn't begin with one missile from one base, and that the computer could mistake many things for a missile launch. It was due to his bravery that he was able to make this decision and stick with it, full knowing the possible consequences.

Stanislav (left) receiving an honourary plaque

He was also a man of high intellect. This is obvious due to the fact that he worked with computers and satellites in the Russian military. However, another proof of his brilliance is that he wrote the procedure which he was supposed to follow in the case of a nuclear attack. He was truly a man of amazing intellect.

He was "The world's lucky rabbit foot." He was not even supposed to be on that shift the day of the false alarm. If there was another person in charge, that person might not have dismissed the computer's warning and might have reported the warning as an attack. Then there's the fact that he was making an educated guess and, although the odds may have been in his favor, the stakes in this gamble were immensely high. For him and his achievements, the world should feel blessed and be grateful for whatever allowed his existence.

The life of the planet, and its inhabitants would not be as they are if it were not for Stanislav Petrov, a hero of even microscopic beings. He is truly a highly courageous, intelligent, and lucky man. The countless deaths and sheer evil that might have been unleashed upon the world without the acts of Stanislav is humbling.