` ` Project Mercury '' was a leap beyond the Soviets in the space race . The U.S. Army said a military base on the moon was a ` ` requirement '' Military officials considered the construction of a nuclear device near the moon . The purpose of a nuclear detonation near or on the moon would be for show , a document said . The military outpost was to have barracks , cabins , nuclear power plants .
` ` Project Mercury '' was a leap beyond the Soviets in the space race . The U.S. Army said a military base on the moon was a ` ` requirement '' Military officials considered the construction of a nuclear device near the moon . The military outpost was to have barracks , cabins , nuclear power plants .