High-altitude nuclear explosion

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Hardtack Teak, 1958
Frame of the Starfish Prime nuclear test

High-altitude nuclear explosions are the result of nuclear weapons testing within the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere and in outer space. Several such tests were performed at high altitudes by the United States and the Soviet Union between 1958 and 1962.

The

Partial Test Ban Treaty was passed in October 1963, ending atmospheric and exoatmospheric nuclear tests. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned the stationing of nuclear weapons in space, in addition to other weapons of mass destruction. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
of 1996 prohibits all nuclear testing; whether over- or underground, underwater or in the atmosphere.

EMP generation

The strong

MHz
to 250 MHz. This high-altitude EMP occurs between 30 and 50 kilometers (19 and 31 miles) above the Earth's surface. The potential as an
repeating station on Kauai, which cut off the sturdy telephone system from the other Hawaiian islands. The radius for an effective satellite kill for the various Compton radiation produced by such a nuclear weapon in space was determined to be roughly 80 kilometres (50 mi). Further testing to this end was carried out, and embodied in a Department of Defense program, Program 437
.

The mechanism for a 400 kilometres (250 mi) high-altitude burst EMP: gamma rays hit the atmosphere between 20 and 40 kilometres (12 and 25 mi) altitude, ejecting electrons which are then deflected sideways by the Earth's magnetic field.

Drawbacks

There are problems with nuclear weapons carried over to testing and deployment scenarios, however. Because of the very large radius associated with nuclear events, it was nearly impossible to prevent indiscriminate damage to other satellites, including one's own satellites.

radiation dose rate was at least 0.6 Gy/day at four months after Starfish for a well-shielded satellite or crewed capsule in a polar circular earth orbit
, which caused NASA concern with regard to its crewed space exploration programs.

Differences from atmospheric tests

Late phases of TEAK fireball and formation of Northern Branch of Aurora as viewed from aircraft flying northwest of explosion.

In general, nuclear effects in space (or very high altitudes) have a qualitatively different display. While an atmospheric nuclear explosion has a characteristic

ground zero
who were not wearing their safety goggles.

Soviet high-altitude tests

The Soviets detonated four high-altitude tests in 1961 and three in 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, both the US and the USSR detonated several high-altitude nuclear explosions as a form of saber rattling.

The worst effects of a Soviet high-altitude test occurred on 22 October 1962, in the

Alma-Ata
.

List of high-altitude nuclear explosions

See also: List of artificial radiation belts
Hardtack I Orange
View of Starfish Prime through thin cloud, as seen from Honolulu, 1,300 km away.
The debris fireball and aurora created by the Starfish Prime test, as seen from a KC-135 aircraft at 3 minutes.
Mission Date Yield Altitude
 
Hardtack I – (Operation Newsreel) – Johnston Atoll
, Pacific Ocean
Yucca 28 April 1958 1.7 kt 26.2 km
Teak
 1 August 1958 3.8 Mt 76.8 km
Orange 12 August 1958 3.8 Mt 34 km
 US Argus – South Atlantic Ocean
Argus I 27 August 1958 1.7 kt 200 km
Argus II 30 August 1958 1.7 kt 240 km
Argus III 6 September 1958 1.7 kt 540 km
 Soviet Union – 1961 tests – Kapustin Yar
Test #88 6 September 1961 10.5 kt 22.7 km
Test #115 6 October 1961 40 kt 41.3 km
Test #127 27 October 1961 1.2 kt 150 km
Test #128 27 October 1961 1.2 kt 300 km
 
Dominic I – (Operation Fishbowl
) – Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean
Bluegill 3 June 1962 failed
Bluegill Prime 25 July 1962 failed
Bluegill Double Prime 15 October 1962 failed
Bluegill Triple Prime 26 October 1962 410 kt 50 km
Starfish 20 June 1962 failed
Starfish Prime 9 July 1962 1.4 Mt 400 km
Checkmate 20 October 1962 7 kt 147 km
Kingfish 1 November 1962 410 kt 97 km
Tightrope 4 November 1962 <5 kt 30–80 km
 Soviet Union – Project K – Kapustin Yar
Test #184 22 October 1962 300 kt 290 km
Test #187 28 October 1962 300 kt 150 km
Test #195 1 November 1962 300 kt 59 km

See also

References

  1. ISSN 0028-8306
    .
  2. ISSN 0021-9169
    .

External links

US Government Films:

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