P I REVADA TEST ORMN~ATIM , 410492 Nevada Test Site # . Memury, N~*a -, . ... , ,., . .’ I ,. ..: BACKGROUND INFORMATIM . :., “ .. l“” on b NEVADA NUCLEAR TESTS ,— — — t A mmmry of previouskmlmsed information provid~ answers to questions concemtig the need for and value of nuclear tests, x8t u9e of the continental test site, on-site opem- tions and controls, public safety, and some phases of organi=tion and progti~ I BEST COPY AVAILABLE . -’0 . ..:,. \ -,. U.-;: .-j t , :. Prepared by .- OFFICE TEST INFORMATION -,-.. OF & 1235 South Xain Street “1 ;.*”*.,“’. Las Vegas, Nevada ~+;”’’j,’.:;;, Revised to July 15, 1957 .-. ,: 1“ .—7 —--— --------- ---- ;—;..,_-: ,- .— ● . , I \ f FOREWORD A large volume of official information has been is- sued concerning Nevada nuclear testing since Nevada Test Site was activated in Januw- 1951. The itio~ation tie public has been contained in official publications and reports of the Atomic Ener~ Commissim, the Department of Defense, the Federal Civil Defense Administration, other Federal organizations, and the joint Nevada Test Organization. ● Prior to the Spring 1952 series, the Test Organiza- tion received many requests from newsmen, from public officials, and from representatives of Federal agencies for a compilation of officially-approved basic inform- ationto be used M a source book. As a result the first compilation of Background Information was issued during the 1952 series. In order to meet similar requests, the information sumnary has been brought up-to-date for each subsequent Nevada Series, incorporating data released officially in the interim period. The present Background Information is such a compi- lation. It does not attempt to be all-inclusive. Many supplementary details are available elsewhere, for in- stance in the 1957 revision of *’AtomicTests in Nevada,w the various semiannual reports of the AEC to Congress, and the Government publication “The Effects of Atac Weapons.n Such publications are usually available in public libraries. A All material summarized here has been officia’.lyre- leased previously, following security and classification review by the Federal agency with primary responsibility for the subject matter. -i- s +CLO1’1’I FOLLCWI.SGNUCLEAR DET(T;ATIR(1?:SEI’A1)A -, .- BACKGROUND INFOF34ATIONON hWADA NUCLEAR TESTS Outline of Contents \ \ Maps, Charts and Photographs Page Photograph of Nuclear Cloud . ) . s . ● ● c ● ● Inside Front Co;er ii Photograph ofShotBalloon . ● ● c ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● “ ● * “ Control Room within the main Control Point Bldg at NTS . ● ● c ● ~.* ~i List of All Full Scale Nuclear Detonations In Nevada. till & ~ Other United States,United Kingdomj and Russian Tests* ● ● c ● ● ● o ● ● ● x Control Point Building at Nevada Test Site. ● ~ . di Control Point of NTS from a Hillside View. ● ● ● photograph ofCampMereury. 0 ● ● . ● ● “ ● ● ● c ● ● ● “ “ ‘ 73 Chart of Headquarters Agencies and Nevada Test Organization. t s .D ~~ Chart of Test Dire:torvs Organization. + . ● . Q * c c c ● ● ● ● ● ‘r Photograph ofCampDesert Rock . ...+...-. ’76. Photograph of Underground Burst. ( ● ● ● ● ● ● “ Inside ‘ack cover Map of Nevada Test Site Vicinity .. ● . ● ● ● ● c o ● ‘ack cover Schematic Arrangement of Balloon Shot Area.. , . Insert Between 38 & 39 Schematic Arrangement of Tower Shot Area, . Insert Between 38 & 39’ Subject : . Forward. ● ● . D ● ● ● ● ● * ● ““”” = ‘, Section 1. Responsibility for U. S. Nuclear Weapons Programs . ~ Atomic Energ Commission, Armed Forces, FCDA Section 2. Why Nuclear Weapons and Devices are Field Tested. 2 2 To AdvanceWeapons Development . ..a. ● OCO*O o*- .2 Nine Developmental Purposes . ● =” O*O-*O” Designing Experimental Devices . .. QO=” OOO-- ** Need for Military IieaponsEffects Tests . .; Civil, Structural and Biomedical Experiments . 3 Summary of United States Nuclear Tests by Series . 3 ~ 4 ● Section 3. Origin, History and Value of Continental Testing . ● . ~ Triniljy,1945. e . , . ● . ● ● ● ● ● c “ “ “ First Developmental Tests in the Pacific . 5 Selection ofi3Continental Site.......** .*=* ***” ”*”5 Numbers and Types of Detonations . ..o. .00c0o ““’”o””” 6 6&? Uses Made-Uf Individual Nevada Tests . ● ● ● c ● ● 0 .8 Costs ofNevadaTests . c ● ● ● ● “ o ● ● ● ● “ .8 Postponements= e . 0 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● “* ● ● “ “ ~ Operating Controls. ● Y ● c ● ● ● s ● ● “ “*- Cla_Arising from Nevada Tests.......=. ..”s”==OO” .! Suits inFederalCourts . ● ● ● c ● ● ● ● ● “ “ ● ~0 Value of a Continental Site to National Programs . 0 ● ● ● ● U AEC Weapons Laboratories . 0 . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 0 ● “ ● - iii - A SHOT BALLOON AT NEVADA TEST SITE Ew!24 “- ~ ● Armed Forces . ● ● ● ☛ . ● . ● . ● . 11 ● ● ✎ ● 11 Civilian Programs . ● ✎ ● ☛ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ * ● . .“ Why an Overseas Site is Also Essential ● ● ● ☛ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ k & 12 \ Section 4. Planning and Conducting Nevada ● . ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● 13 ‘ ● OriginofaSeries . ** ● ● ● ● ● 0 ● 9 ● ✎ ● w ● 13 ● ● Each Shot Justified for Technical Necessity ● ☛ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● 13 ● ✎ ✎ ✎ 13 Operating Considerations. ● ☛ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● . ● ● Requirement for Technical Success . ● ☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ● ● ● ● ● 13 ● ✎ ✎ 13 Public Safety Requirement. ● ☛ ● ✎ ● ✎ 0 ● ● . ● . ● ● Placement of Devices , . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● . l-f+ ✎ Placement to Avoid Contaminating Another ● ✎ ● . ● ✎ * ● ● ✎ . a IA ● Hours of Tests . ● ☛ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● . ● ✎ ✎ ● ● u ● ✎ ✎ ● ● . ✎ . ● ✎ ● ● ● u Division of Real Estate and of Air . ● ✟ . ✎ ● Buildup in Laboratories and at the Site . ● ✎ c e ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● ✎ . 15 ● ● TheMovetoNevada . ● ☛ ● . ● ● . ● ● ● ● ● ✎ . 15 ● Pre-Shot Schedule and Considerations. ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ . ● ● ● ● ✎ ● . ● 16 ● ● ● ● ● ● 17 Weather is Major Consideration . .** 4 . ● ● ● ● . * Factors Affecting Last Minute Postponements * ● ● . ✎ ✎ ● ● ● . ● ✎ ● ● ● .17& le ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● 19 Post-shot Operations. ~ . ● ● . ✎ . ✎ ✎ . ✎ ● On-Site Monitoring . ● ● . ✎ . ✎ ✎ . ● ● ● ✎ ✎ , 19 ● ✎ ✎ ● ● 19 Cloud Sampling and Tracking . , . ✎ ✎ . ● . ● ☛ . ● . ● ✎ ● Air ClosurebyCU . ✎ e ● ● , * ✎ ● . ● . ● ● ● 19 ✎ ● Establishing the Fallout Pattern . ● . ● ● . ✎ ✎ . ● ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ● 19 Distant Monitoring . ● . ✎ ✎ ● . ● ✎ ● . ● . ● ● ✎ ● ● ● 19 Section 5, Training Programs and Other Activities Utilizing NTs Other Nearby Locations . ● . ● ● ● . ● e . ✎ . ● 20 Citil Defense Training and Technical Programs . ● . ● ✎ ● ● ● ● e ● ● ✎ 20 Military On-Site Training and Observation . ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 9 ✎ ● ● 21 Air Crew Training and Indoctrination . ✎ ● ✌ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● , ✎ . ✎ 21 Public Health Service Training . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● . ✎ . ● 21 Other Programs at Nevada Test Site and Nearby ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ e ● ● ● ● ● 22 The Safety Experiment Program . ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ e ● ● . ● ● ● 22 Liyermore High Explosive Tests . ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ e ● e ● ● ✎ * ● 22 NewTechnical Area... ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● . ● . ✎ . ✎ 22 Tonopah Ballistics Range . ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ● ● ● ● . ✎ 22 Watertown Project . ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ * ● . ✎ . ● 22 Other Projects at NTS . ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ● ● . ● ● . ● . ✎ 23 Section 6. The Nevada Te#t Organization . ✎ ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● . ● ● ● ● ✎ 24 A Joint-Agency Organization . ✎ ● . ✎ ● ✎ . * ● 0 . ✎ . s ● 2A AEC Albuquerque Operations . ● ✎ * ✎ ✎ e . ● . ✎ . ● ✎ 2-4 Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory . ● ✎ . ● ✎ ● . ● . ✎ . ● ● 25 University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore) ● ● 8 . ● ✎ Y . ✎ 25 SandiaLaboratory . ● ☛✎✎✎✎ . ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● 25 ● Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. ✎☛ *.*” e ● . ● . ✎ ● . 26 ● ● Armed Forces S~cial Weapons Center . .* .*.* ● . ● ● ● . 26 ● AEC Support Contractors . .* ***. ● ● e 2’7 c -iv- \ C:- 4 Subject PaJig Section 7. Where Nevada Tests Are Conducted ● ● ● ● * . ● ● . ● ● ● ● , 28 Location and Geography . ● ☛☛ ● ✎ ✌ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . 28 Additions to the Original Site. ● ✎☛ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ☛ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● 2$ Contract and Construction Date. ✎✎☛ ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● 29 ✎ ) Supporting Installations . ● ☛✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ : 29 Camp Mercury . ● ☛☛ ✎ ● ✎ ✌ . ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ✌ ● ● . 29 Camp Desert Rock . ☞☛☛ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ‘29 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Indian Springs Air Force Base. ● 0, ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ . 30 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✌ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● Technical Areas-Within NTS. .*. ✎ . 30 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● The Control Point. ● . 30 ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 30 Frenchman Flat . .0. ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ YuccaBasin. .O... ✎ ✎ . ✎ . 31 Section /3..Technical Facilities and Instrumentation ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ . 32 Purpose of Technical Facilities . ● . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . 32 Technical Structures and Instruments. ✎ ● ● . ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● . AirDrop Targets . ✎ ✎ ● . ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . ;;, Test Towers . ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . 32 Ealloon Winches and Winch Shelters . ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● . 33 Instrumentation and Structures . ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● Underground Instrumentation Bunkers. ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ;;8 The Control Point.... ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 36 New Instrumentation . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 3’7 PART II June 24, 1957 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Section 9. The 1957 Test Series .0 . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ✎ ● ✎ The Purpose . ● . ,. ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ . ;; ✎ Extent of Program . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . 39 ✎ ✎ 1957 Shots . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . 40 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Shot Names . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . 41 ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Dual and Triple Capability. ● . .0 ✎ ● ✎ . 41 ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● 41 Yield Range of a Device . ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ 42 The “Open” Shots. ✎ .* . ● ● Section 10. Balloons, Tunnels and Rockets ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . 43 ✎ ✎ ✎ Air-to-Air Rocket . ●