Sandia National Laboratories first began with the Manhattan Project, the program that developed the atom bomb. The tests were done in Los Alamos, but because there wasn't much housing and transportation to and from there was difficult the Manhattan Project moved to Kirtland Field and was renamed the Z Division of Los Alamos Labs. The Z Division began as a collection of buildings from the Army that had been originally built to train aircraft mechanics. It was renamed Sandia Base because it was close to the Sandia Mountains and all nonnuclear weapons were transferred there. After World War II control of nuclear weapons and Sandia Base was transferred to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). When the Cold War began a need to develop nuclear weapons …show more content…
Originally nuclear devices were so large in size and weight that planes weren't capable of delivering them. Sandia researched how to reduce the size of metal casings that held the nuclear devices and decrease their weight. Sandia also developed concepts for deploying nuclear devices. Planes couldn't escape the blast from nuclear bombs they dropped because they had to fly under the radar to avoid detection as well as from being shot down. To solve this Sandia developed bombs that could be deployed and slowed down with a parachute. It's an idea that sounds simple but to make it work required stronger parachutes than were available and also required strengthening all other parts of the …show more content…
When nuclear testing was banned in 1958 Sandia focused on other areas of research: ways to detect if nuclear testing was happening around the world, sensors able to detect troop movement and advanced parachute technology. Sandia began its impact on private industry with developments in solar, wind, and geothermal power. These are seen today with solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal power plants. They improved ways to obtain fossil fuels and made innovations that were adopted by the medical profession and the circuit board industry. In the 90's their mission was officially redefined to include helping the US stay competitive economically. SNL focused more on applied engineering than basic science so it was able to switch focus easily and AT&T and Lockheed and Martin, with their expertise in the economic world, helped make the lab’s research relevant commercially. In New Mexico they worked with universities, such as UNM and NMSU, to create new technologies for venture capitalists. Sandia lent technical expertise to small businesses as well. Sandia scientists and engineers were also allowed to establish businesses using technologies they had developed. In Silicon Valley they opened an office and helped with long term research for local companies who otherwise could only financially support short immediately profitable ventures. SNL also opened a research park in New Mexico to aid interaction with private