Misty Picture

Misty Picture was a test conducted on May 14, 1987 by the

From the test report:^[1]

MISTY PICTURE was the fourth test in the MISTY CASTLE series of large-scale High Explosive (HE) tests sponsored by the

From the introduction to the test report:

MISTY PICTURE was sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA), with Field Command. DNA (FCDNA) being tasked with executing the event. The primary objective of the test is to provide an airblast and ground shock environment for DoD-sponsored experiments. These experiments are designed to determine the response of tactical and strategic weapon systems, communications equipment, vehicles and a variety of structures to a simulated nuclear environment. A secondary objective is to provide a thermal environment (in conjunction with the airblast) for specific experiments. A third objective is to provide a simulated nuclear precursor environment in support of the Air Force Hardened Mobile Launcher (HML) program.

A more detailed description later in the report:

MISTY PICTURE will be a High Explosive (HE) event designed to provide a blast, thermal, and shock environment for the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Government Agencies, and foreign governments sponsoring target experiments. For selected experiments, seven Thermal Radiation Sources (TRS) are placed at varying distances from Ground Zero (GZ) to augment the blast and shock environment by providing thermal radiation. The TRS will operate just prior to detonation of the explosive charge. Execution is currently scheduled for 14 May 1987. MISTY PICTURE will detonate 4,880 tons of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) placed at ground level. Test objectives are to:

1. Record blast and shock environment.
2. Record damage to weapons, shelters and systems.
3. Record synergistic effects of blast and thermal environments.
4. Increase weapons effects data base.

In addition to the before mentioned objectives, four

Terrier missiles

and 20 Viper rockets will be fired into the dust cloud produced by the MISTY PICTURE detonation during the T+1 minute to T+3 minute time period. The missile payloads are ballistic re-entry vehicles being tested for the effects of dust erosion on their surfaces and trajectories. The rockets are samplers to define the environment that the re-entry vehicles were exposed to.

Event description

The test was conducted at the Permanent High Explosive Test Site (PHETS) on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of the Northern Range boundary. Ground Zero (GZ) was approximately 500 feet (150 m) south-southeast from the GZ used for the very similar June 1985 Minor Scale event.

Gracon Corporation (Loveland, Colorado) did the helium dispersion into the layer simulating a thermal layer in order to create the shock precursor.^{[clarification needed]}

See also

• List of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions
• Operation Sailor Hat

References

External links

• Misty Picture from GlobalSecurity.org
• Nuclear Effects Testing - Introduction