The Moby Dick Project: Reconnaissance Balloons over Russia is a book writen by the aerospace historian Curtis Peebles, which was published in 1991 by the Smithsonian Institution Press.

Peebles is renowned for his extensive work on Cold War aviation and space programs, with notable titles such as Dark Eagles and Watch the Skies!. His expertise in military aerospace projects, particularly those shrouded in secrecy, provides a solid foundation for this detailed exploration of one of the United States' most audacious intelligence initiatives during the early Cold War era. Prior to this publication, Peebles had already gained recognition for his work on unacknowledged and black aviation programs, including contributions to literature on unidentified flying objects and the history of American aerospace intelligence.

The book delves into Project Moby Dick, a clandestine operation initiated in the early 1950s, aiming to gather photographic intelligence over the Soviet Union using high-altitude balloons equipped with cameras. This endeavor emerged from the pressing need for intelligence on Soviet military and industrial capabilities following the outbreak of the Korean War. With the Soviet Union shrouded in secrecy and direct intelligence about its military capabilities virtually nonexistent, the United States desperately needed reliable data. Project Moby Dick, and its successor projects Grandson and Genetrix, were devised to fill that gap by launching thousands of unmanned balloons from Western Europe and Asia to drift across the Soviet Union, capturing photographic intelligence with automated cameras.

Peebles meticulously chronicles the project's conception, development, and execution, highlighting the technological challenges and political intricacies involved. His narrative details the technical aspects of the balloon operations, including their design, launch mechanisms, and the complexities of navigating the jet stream to reach Soviet airspace. Engineers faced significant challenges, such as designing balloons capable of surviving high-altitude atmospheric conditions, the difficulty of steering or predicting their trajectories, and the integration of onboard camera systems.

The author analyzes the political ramifications, such as the tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union, and the internal debates within the U.S. government regarding the ethics and risks of such surveillance methods. Peebles offers a behind-the-scenes look at inter-agency conflicts between the Air Force, the CIA, and other military branches, which frequently competed for control over reconnaissance operations. These bureaucratic rivalries sometimes undermined the effectiveness of the programs and delayed the implementation of better surveillance strategies.

Peebles does not shy away from critiquing the limited success of the project as many balloons were shot down or recovered by the Soviets, and much of the film returned yielded little actionable intelligence. Nonetheless, he argues that the project was significant as a technological and conceptual stepping stone. It forced the U.S. military and intelligence community to think creatively about aerial reconnaissance and laid the groundwork for more advanced systems, such as the Lockheed U-2 spy plane and KH-series spy satellites.

The author also explores the diplomatic consequences of the balloon program. The Soviet government protested vigorously against these incursions, framing them as violations of national sovereignty. The exposure of the project in the international press further complicated U.S. diplomatic efforts. Peebles navigates these themes with care, presenting a balanced view that neither glorifies nor condemns the operation but instead situates it within the larger context of Cold War strategic necessity and ethical ambiguity.

Peebles' thorough research is evident in his use of declassified documents, interviews, and firsthand accounts, with the 250-page volume including rare photographs, declassified maps, and diagrams that help illustrate the complexity and scale of the balloon program. The book is well-organized, with clear prose that makes complex technical and political subjects accessible to a broad audience, as Peebles' style combines scholarly rigor with lucid and engaging writing that appeals to both academic and general readers.