Nuclear testing
A
nuclear test explosion is an experiment using a
nuclear weapon to observe its actual (not just theoretical) destructive power. It may also be a demonstration of the possessing nation's strength. (See
North Korea nuclear weapons program)
The United States successfully detonated the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed "Mike" ["m" for megaton], at Eniwetok island in the Bikini atoll on November 1, 1952.
The Soviet Union detonated a 50 megaton yield hydrogen bomb over Novaya Zemlya on October 30, 1961 (this is still the largest nuclear device to ever be detonated). The U.S estimated the yield to be 57 megatons, which was the figure circulated by the Soviet Union after the test.
There have been around 2,000 nuclear test explosions:
Peter Kuran's documentary film
Trinity and Beyond (1996) is perhaps the first documentary on the history of nuclear testing, and incorporates a good deal of rare footage of US, Soviet and Chinese tests as well as interviews with many key figures in the US test program.
Known test series designations
US
The United States has conducted numerous nuclear tests throughout the nation including the Nevada Test Site, the Pacific Test Site, Alaska and even Farmington, New Mexico.
- Operation Trinity. 17 July, 1945 see Trinity site
- Operation Crossroads, 1946
- Operation Sandstone, 1948
- Operation Ranger, 1951
- Operation Greenhouse, 1951
- Operation Buster-Jangle, 1951
- Operation Tumbler-Snapper, 1952
- Operation Ivy, 1952
- Operation Upshot-Knothole, 1953
- Operation Castle, 1954
- Operation Teapot, 1955
- Operation Wigwam, 14 May, 1955
- Operation Red Wing, 1956
- Operation Plumbob, 1957
- Operation Hardtack, 1958
- Operation Argus, 1958
- Operation Dominic, 1962, 1963
- Operation Nougat, 1963 - 1964
- Operation Little Feller, July, 1962
- Operation Dominic/Fishbowl, 1962 - 1963
- Operation Niblick, 1963 - 1964
- Operation Whetstone, 1964 - 1965
- Operation Flintlock, 1965 - 1966
- Operation Latchkey, 1966 - 1967
- Operation Crosstie, 1967 - 1968
- Operation Bowline, 1968 - 1969
- Operation Mandrel, 1969
- Operation Emery 1970
- Operation Grommet, 1971 - 1972
- Operation Toggle, 1972 - 1973
- Operation Arbor, 1973 -1974
- Operation Bedrock, 1974- 1975
- Operation Anvil, 1975 - 1976
- Operation Fulcrum, 1976 -1977
- Operation Crescent, 1977 - 1978
- Operation Quicksilver, 1978 - 1979
- Operation Tinderbox, 1979 - 1980
- Operation Guardian, 1980 - 1981
- Operation Praetorian, 1981
- Operation Phalanx, 1982 - 1983
- Operation Fusileer, 1983 - 1984
- Operation Grenadier, 1984 - 1985
- Operation Charioteer, 1985
- Operation Divider, 23 September, 1992
- Operation Rebound, 1997
USSR
UK
France
India
See Also
External Links