2013 Oct Newsletter
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Grappling with the Bomb: Britain's Pacific H-Bomb Tests
Timeline and glossary Nuclear timeline, 1945–1963 16 July 1945 Alamogordo, United States conducts first-ever nuclear New Mexico, USA test, codenamed ‘Trinity .’ 6 August 1945 Hiroshima, Japan US aircraft Enola Gay drops the atomic weapon ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people immediately and an estimated 100,000 people within six months . 9 August 1945 Nagasaki, Japan US aircraft Bockscar drops the atomic weapon ‘Fat Man’ on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 people immediately and tens of thousands in following months . 30 June 1946 Bikini Atoll, Marshall Under Operation Crossroads, United Islands States conducts the first of two atomic tests at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. ‘Able’ and ‘Baker’ are the first of 67 atmospheric tests in the Marshall Islands between 1946–1958 . 6 August 1948 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima’s first Peace Festival. 29 August 1949 Semipalatinsk, USSR conducts first atomic test Kazakhstan RDS-1 in Operation Pervaya molniya (Fast lightning), dubbed ‘Joe-1’ by United States . 1950–1954 Korean peninsula United States, Britain and Australia, under a United Nations mandate, join military operations in Korea following clashes between forces from the south and north of Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic is backed by the newly created People’s Republic of China . 3 October 1952 Monte Bello Islands, Under Operation Hurricane, United Western Australia Kingdom begins its nuclear testing program in Australia with a 25 kiloton atomic test . xi GRAPPLING WITH THE BOMB 1 November 1952 Bikini Atoll, Marshall United States conducts its first Islands hydrogen bomb test, codenamed ‘Mike’ (10 .4 megatons) as part of Operation Ivy . -
Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid
Georgetown University Law Center Scholarship @ GEORGETOWN LAW 2019 Exoatmospheric Plowshares: Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid David A. Koplow Georgetown University Law Center, [email protected] This paper can be downloaded free of charge from: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2197 https://ssrn.com/abstract=3229382 UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, Spring 2019, Issue 1, 76. This open-access article is brought to you by the Georgetown Law Library. Posted with permission of the author. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub Part of the Air and Space Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, and the National Security Law Commons EXOATMOSPHERIC PLOWSHARES: USING A NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOR PLANETARY DEFENSE AGAINST AN INCOMING ASTEROID DavidA. Koplow* "They shall bear their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" Isaiah 2:4 ABSTRACT What should be done if we suddenly discover a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth? The consequences of an impact could be enormous-scientists believe thatsuch a strike 60 million years ago led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and something ofsimilar magnitude could happen again. Although no such extraterrestrialthreat now looms on the horizon, astronomers concede that they cannot detect all the potentially hazardous * Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable comments from the following experts, colleagues and friends who reviewed prior drafts of this manuscript: Hope M. Babcock, Michael R. Cannon, Pierce Corden, Thomas Graham, Jr., Henry R. Hertzfeld, Edward M. -
Mercury Bowling Alley Demolition
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION NEVADA FIELD OFFICE, AND THE NEVADA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REGARDING THE DEMOLITION OF THE MERCURY BOWLING ALLEY, NEVADA NATIONAL SECURITY SITE, NEVADA WHEREAS, the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) intends to demolish the Mercury Bowling Alley (Building 23-517) on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada, as part of its plans for new construction and modernization of Mercury to support the NNSS's changing role in national security; and WHEREAS, the present undertaking consists of the demolition of Building 23-517 (SHPO Resource Number B 14451) that has remained vacant since the mid-i 990s following the end of nuclear testing activities at the NNSS (formerly Nevada Test Site [NTS]). In planning for the undertaking, NNSA/NFO considered all possible alternatives to avoid and minimize adverse effects to historic properties; and WHEREAS, theNNSA/NFO has defined the undertaking's area of potential effect (APE) as a 4.5-acre area in Mercury bounded on the west by the Mercury Highway, on the east by Teapot Street, on the south by Trinity Avenue, and on the north by a prominent terrace immediately south of a parking lot, park, and tennis/basketbatl court (Attachment A); and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO recorded and evaluated Building 23-517 (Attachment A) En accordance with the Nevada ArchUectvral Survey and Inventory Guidelines, and has determined that Building 23-517 is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the Secretary's Significance Criteria A and C at the locai level of historic significance related to the era of nuclear testing; and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO has determined that the undertaking will constitute an adverse effect to the historic property Building 23-517, and has consulted with the Nevada Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) pursuant to 36 C.F.R. -
Operation Dominic I
OPERATION DOMINIC I United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests Nuclear Test Personnel Review Prepared by the Defense Nuclear Agency as Executive Agency for the Department of Defense HRE- 0 4 3 6 . .% I.., -., 5. ooument. Tbe t k oorreotsd oontraofor that tad oa the book aw ra-ready c I I i I 1 1 I 1 I 1 i I I i I I I i i t I REPORT NUMBER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NC I NA6OccOF 1 i Technical Report 7. AUTHOR(.) i L. Berkhouse, S.E. Davis, F.R. Gladeck, J.H. Hallowell, C.B. Jones, E.J. Martin, DNAOO1-79-C-0472 R.A. Miller, F.W. McMullan, M.J. Osborne I I 9. PERFORMING ORGAMIIATION NWE AN0 AODRCSS ID. PROGRAM ELEMENT PROJECT. TASU Kamn Tempo AREA & WOW UNIT'NUMSERS P.O. Drawer (816 State St.) QQ . Subtask U99QAXMK506-09 ; Santa Barbara, CA 93102 11. CONTROLLING OFClCC MAME AM0 ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE 1 nirpctor- . - - - Defense Nuclear Agency Washington, DC 20305 71, MONITORING AGENCY NAME AODRCSs(rfdIfI*mI ka CamlIlIU Olllc.) IS. SECURITY CLASS. (-1 ah -*) J Unclassified SCHCDULC 1 i 1 I 1 IO. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES This work was sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency under RDT&E RMSS 1 Code 6350079464 U99QAXMK506-09 H2590D. For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 19. KEY WOROS (Cmlmm a nm.. mid. I1 n.c...-7 .nd Id.nllh 4 bled nlrmk) I Nuclear Testing Polaris KINGFISH Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) FISHBOWL TIGHTROPE DOMINIC Phase I Christmas Island CHECKMATE 1 Johnston Island STARFISH SWORDFISH ASROC BLUEGILL (Continued) D. -
Bob Farquhar
1 2 Created by Bob Farquhar For and dedicated to my grandchildren, their children, and all humanity. This is Copyright material 3 Table of Contents Preface 4 Conclusions 6 Gadget 8 Making Bombs Tick 15 ‘Little Boy’ 25 ‘Fat Man’ 40 Effectiveness 49 Death By Radiation 52 Crossroads 55 Atomic Bomb Targets 66 Acheson–Lilienthal Report & Baruch Plan 68 The Tests 71 Guinea Pigs 92 Atomic Animals 96 Downwinders 100 The H-Bomb 109 Nukes in Space 119 Going Underground 124 Leaks and Vents 132 Turning Swords Into Plowshares 135 Nuclear Detonations by Other Countries 147 Cessation of Testing 159 Building Bombs 161 Delivering Bombs 178 Strategic Bombers 181 Nuclear Capable Tactical Aircraft 188 Missiles and MIRV’s 193 Naval Delivery 211 Stand-Off & Cruise Missiles 219 U.S. Nuclear Arsenal 229 Enduring Stockpile 246 Nuclear Treaties 251 Duck and Cover 255 Let’s Nuke Des Moines! 265 Conclusion 270 Lest We Forget 274 The Beginning or The End? 280 Update: 7/1/12 Copyright © 2012 rbf 4 Preface 5 Hey there, I’m Ralph. That’s my dog Spot over there. Welcome to the not-so-wonderful world of nuclear weaponry. This book is a journey from 1945 when the first atomic bomb was detonated in the New Mexico desert to where we are today. It’s an interesting and sometimes bizarre journey. It can also be horribly frightening. Today, there are enough nuclear weapons to destroy the civilized world several times over. Over 23,000. “Enough to make the rubble bounce,” Winston Churchill said. The United States alone has over 10,000 warheads in what’s called the ‘enduring stockpile.’ In my time, we took care of things Mano-a-Mano. -
Nevada National Security Site Underground Test Area (UGTA) Flow and Transport Modeling – Approach and Example
Nevada National Security Site Underground Test Area (UGTA) Flow and Transport Modeling – Approach and Example Bill Wilborn UGTA Activity Lead U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office Bob Andrews Navarro-INTERA December 12, 2014 Outline • Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) • Environmental Management (EM) mission at NNSS • Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO) • UGTA strategy and approach • NNSS inventory • Example of UGTA strategy implementation at Yucca Flat • Summary ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 2 PageLog 2Title No. 2014-231Page 2 EM Mission at NNSS • Characterization and remediation activities at radioactive and non-radioactive contaminated sites – Activities focus on groundwater, soil, and onsite infrastructure contamination from historic nuclear testing • Low-level radioactive and hazardous waste management and disposal – National disposal facility for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Complex (Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site) • Environmental planning, compliance, and monitoring ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 3 PageLog 3Title No. 2014-231Page 3 FFACO • FFACO provides approach for DOE to develop and implement corrective actions under the regulatory authority and oversight of State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) • Agreement for governing the process to identify, characterize, and implement corrective actions at historical sites used in the development, testing, and production of nuclear weapons • Tri-party agreement – NDEP, DOE, and U.S. Department of Defense ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 4 PageLog 4Title No. 2014-231Page 4 FFACO UGTA Strategy Assumptions 1. Groundwater technologies for removal or stabilization of subsurface radiological contamination are not cost-effective 2. Closure in place with monitoring and institutional controls is the only likely corrective action 3. -
26E 1958 List of Artificial Radiation Belts
List of artificial radiation belts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 1 of 3 List of artificial radiation belts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Artificial radiation belts are radiation belts that have been created by high altitude nuclear explosions. [1][2][3][4] List of Artificial Radiation Belts Yield Altitude Nation of Explosion Location Date (approximate) (km) Origin Johnston Island 1958-08- Hardtack Teak 3.8 megatons 76.8 United States (Pacific) 01 Hardtack Johnston Island 1958-08- 3.8 megatons 43 United States Orange (Pacific) 12 1958-08- Argus I South Atlantic 1-2 kilotons 200 United States 27 1958-08- Argus II South Atlantic 1-2 kilotons 256 United States 30 1958-09- Argus III South Atlantic 1-2 kilotons 539 United States 06 Johnston Island 1962-07- Starfish Prime 1.4 megatons 400 United States (Pacific) 09 1962-10- K-3 Kazakhstan 300 kilotons 290 USSR 22 1962-10- K-4 Kazakhstan 300 kilotons 150 USSR 28 1962-11- K-5 Kazakhstan 300 kilotons 59 USSR 01 The table above only lists those high-altitude nuclear explosions for which a reference exists in the open (unclassified) English-language scientific literature to persistent artificial radiation belts resulting from the explosion. The Starfish Prime radiation belt had, by far, the greatest intensity and duration of any of the artificial radiation belts.[1] The Starfish Prime radiation belt damaged the United States satellites Ariel 1, Traac, Transit 4B, Injun I and Telstar I. It also damaged the Soviet satellite Cosmos V. All of these satellites failed completely within -
148 Part 3—Adjudication
§ 2.8 38 CFR Ch. I (7–1–20 Edition) a brief summary of each recommenda- PART 3—ADJUDICATION tion for relief and its disposition. Prep- aration of the report shall be the re- Subpart A—Pension, Compensation, and sponsibility of the General Counsel. Dependency and Indemnity Com- (c) The authority to grant the equi- pensation table relief, referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, has not been GENERAL delegated and is reserved to the Sec- Sec. retary. Recommendation for the cor- 3.1 Definitions. rection of administrative error and for 3.2 Periods of war. appropriate equitable relief therefrom 3.3 Pension. 3.4 Compensation. will be submitted to the Secretary, 3.5 Dependency and indemnity compensa- through the General Counsel. Such rec- tion. ommendation may be initiated by the 3.6 Duty periods. head of the administration having re- 3.7 Individuals and groups considered to sponsibility for the benefit, or of any have performed active military, naval, or concerned staff office, or by the Chair- air service. man, Board of Veterans Appeals. When 3.10 Dependency and indemnity compensa- tion rate for a surviving spouse. a recommendation for relief under 3.11 Homicide. paragraph (a) or (b) of this section is 3.12 Character of discharge. initiated by the head of a staff office, 3.12a Minimum active-duty service require- or the Chairman, Board of Veterans ment. Appeals, the views of the head of the 3.13 Discharge to change status. administration having responsibility 3.14 Validity of enlistments. for the benefit will be obtained and 3.15 Computation of service. -
"Report of the Investigation of the Accident at the Midas Myth/Milagro
I o07'A AiVO- ?;5 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE; MIDAS MYTH/MILAGRO TRAILER PARK ON RAINIER MESA AT NEVADA TEST SITE ON FEB. 15, 1984 DATE OF INVESTIGATION REPORT APRIL 9, 1984 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION ...... .... 1I............................... It. SUMMARY .....g .s..; 2 I.I. DISCUSSION OF THE FACTS 6 A. General Background 6 1. DOE Conduct of Nuclear Tests .......................... 6 2. 000 Nuclear Weapons Effects Tests Planning and Execution .............. .is 3. Geology of Rainier Mesa 20 4. Background of Phenomenological Experience ............. 22 B. The Accident ................ * . 25 C. Postaccident Activity ................ 51 D. Safety .. 606..................................... IV. ANALYSIS ... ..... .! 61 A. Geotechnical Aspects of the Accident ........ .. o.... 61 gB The Accident . o.......g....g79 C. Post-Accident Activity 82 V. CONCLUSIONS 84 A. Probable Causes o4....... ee. gg0e00 .g.... ge. 84 S. Findings ...... ..............g0gegeeege. 84 C. Judgment of Needs .......... g88 VI. SIGNATURES ... e..e..........e90 A. Representatives and Advisors 91 VII. BOARD AUTHORITY ...... 92 VIII. INDEX OF EXHIBITS 94 GLOSSARY i INDEX OF FIGURES Figure 4o. Title Page 1 Nevada Test Site Location Map 4 2 Detail of Nevada Test Site 5 3 Nuclear Test Organization 4 Cross-Section Through MIDAS MYTh Working Point 21 5 CEP Data Sheet 26 6 NTS Wide Permanent Geophone Array 29 7 MIDAS MYTH/MILAGRO Reentry Routes 30 8 Rainier Mesa Road Blockage Above -
The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions
The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions October 1989 NTIS order #PB90-156183 Recommended Citation: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions, OTA-ISC-414 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, October 1989), Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 89-600707 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (order form can be found in the back of this report) Foreword Within weeks after the ending of World War II, plans for the first nuclear test series “Operation Crossroads” were underway. The purpose then, as now, was to develop new weapon systems and to study the effects of nuclear explosions on military equipment. The development of the nuclear testing program has been paralleled by public opposition from both an arms control and an environmental perspective. Much of the criticism is due to the symbolic nature of testing nuclear weapons and from the radiation hazards associated with the early practice of testing in the atmosphere. Recently, however, specific concerns have also been raised about the current underground testing program; namely: . Are testing practices safe? . Could an accidental release of radioactive material escape undetected? ● Is the public being fully informed of all the dangers emanating from the nuclear testing program? These concerns are fueled in part by the secrecy that surrounds the testing program and by publicized problems at nuclear weapons production facilities. At the request of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and Senator Orrin G. Hatch, OTA undertook an assessment of the containment and monitoring practices of the nuclear testing program. -
Locally Intruded by Late Mesozoic (@93 M.Y.BP) Plutonic Rocks Related Ti the Sierra Nevada Batholith
—-...--...——.—— LA-10428-MS ! CIC-14REPORT COLLECTION C3* Reproduction COPY :,;-.+Z;LJJ I .—.— .n.Tm—. Los Alamos Nationel Laboratory IS operated by the Unlverslty 01 California for the Uruted States Department of Energy undercontiact W-7405 .ENG-36. ,- ~.. ., . ,.. -. ,. .. .— - “- , . .,, i. ,, . .. ,.- . ... ,<.- . ...-;; . .: : . .. ,.:-” ,,,.,, , -; ,. ,. ., , .,-,. .N, u , ,,“~ : “,,; ,’...... .,, .!. ,,,.. , ., . .., .. ... # ,,.. .. ,,. .. ,. .- . “. ,, ‘..,.,.Nevada Test Site Field Trip (iuidebook .-, ,. ,. ,., , ..,,..,,“ :. .,,4,,d. .,}.., , .. “:.,-. ! ————. 1984 .--.—.. -:----s ● H.-: - -r., -. .,% .~hd.? I ..-.— —. .. — . .— —.— —...——— LosAlamosNationalLaboratory LosAllallT10sLosAlamos,NewMexico87545 k AffiitiveActlosa/Equdt)p@UOity fh@oyS?S This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Waste Management Program/Nevada Operations Ofiiee and Los Alamos Weapons Development Pro- gram/Test Operations. Edited by Glenda Ponder, ESSDivision DISCLAIMER Thisreport waspreparedas an accountof work sponsoredby an agencyof the LhdtedStatesCoverrrment. Neitherthe UnitedStates Governmentnor any agencythereof, nor any of their employees,makesany warranty,expressor irnpIied,or assumesany Iegatliabilityor responsibilityfor the accuracy,wmpletenesa, or usefutncasof any information,apparatus,product, or processdisclosed,or representsthat i!ausewould not infringeprivatelyownedrights. Reference hereinto any specificcommercialproduct, process,or serviceby trade name,trademark,manufacturer,or otherwise,doesnot newaaarilywnatitute or Irssplyits -
Review of the Summary Site Profile for the Pacific Proving Grounds
Draft ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health REVIEW OF THE SUMMARY SITE PROFILE FOR THE PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS Contract No. 200-2009-28555 SCA-TR-SP2013-0040, Revision 1 Prepared by U. Hans Behling, PhD, CHP S. Cohen & Associates 1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 400 Vienna, VA 22182 November 2013 Disclaimer This document is made available in accordance with the unanimous desire of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (ABRWH) to maintain all possible openness in its deliberations. However, the ABRWH and its contractor, SC&A, caution the reader that at the time of its release, this report is pre- decisional and has not been reviewed by the Board for factual accuracy or applicability within the requirements of 42CFR82. This implies that once reviewed by the ABRWH, the Board’s position may differ from the report’s conclusions. Thus, the reader should be cautioned that this report is for information only and that premature interpretations regarding its conclusions are unwarranted. Effective Date: Revision No. Document No. Page No. November 5, 2013 1 (Draft) SCA-TR-SP2013-0040 2 of 65 Document No. S. COHEN & ASSOCIATES: SCA-TR-SP2013-0040 Technical Support for the Advisory Board on Effective Date: Radiation & Worker Health Review of Draft – November 5, 2013 NIOSH Dose Reconstruction Program Revision No. 1 Review of the Summary Site Profile for the Pacific Page 2 of 65 Proving Grounds Supersedes: Task Manager: Rev. 0 (Draft) __________________________ Date:____________ U. Hans Behling, PhD, MPH Project Manager: Peer Reviewer(s): John Mauro John Stiver __________________________ Date:____________ John Stiver, CHP Record of Revisions Revision Effective Description of Revision Number Date 0 (Draft) 10/21/2013 Initial issue 1 (Draft) 11/05/2013 Revised Finding 1.