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Series of 1990s US nuclear tests From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Julin[1] was a group of 7 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1991–1992. These tests[note 1] followed the Operation Sculpin series, and were the last before negotiations began for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
| Julin | |
|---|---|
Julin Divider, 5kt. Last U.S. Nuclear Test. | |
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site |
|
| Period | 1991–1992 |
| Number of tests | 7 |
| Test type | underground shaft, tunnel |
| Max. yield | 100 kilotonnes of TNT (420 TJ) |
| Test series chronology | |
Shot Diamond Fortune was to investigate blast flow field produced by a modern nuclear weapon. The shot was fired in a half-spherical cavity with an 11-metre (36 ft) radius, with a 4-metre (13 ft) height of burst. The floor was divided into two sections, one covered in base soil and the other in snow simulant.[2]
Shot Hunters Trophy was Lawrence Livermore's last nuclear test and the second to last nuclear test conducted by the United states.[3] Its purpose was to evaluate the radiation hardness of space and high altitude systems, such as optics, sensors and materials for the Strategic Defense Initiative, and the hardness of Sandia detonators.[4] The test consisted of a 850-foot (260 m) horizontal line of sight (HLOS) pipe and "stub pipes" to simulate different nuclear battlefield environments.[5][3]
Hunters Trophy included the experiment Hydroplus. The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) developed a means of verifying non-standard nuclear tests using ground peak stress and velocity at several ranges from a possible detonation point using computer hydrocodes. These codes required calibration data which was gathered at Hunters Trophy. Further Hydroplus experiments were conducted in shot Distant Zenith of Operation Sculpin.[6]
Divider was the last nuclear test conducted by the United States.[7]
Three tests were being prepared when the moratorium ended further nuclear testing: Icecap, Gabbs and Greenwater.[8]
Icecap was scheduled for spring 1993. It had a planned yield of 20 to 150 kilotonnes of TNT (84 to 628 TJ) and was to be fired at 1,557 feet (475 m) below the surface in Area 9.[8] A diagnostics canister exists at the site,[9] weighing 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg).[10] The canister contains several experiments to be used in the test including THREX (threshold x-ray experiments) which used solid-state detectors to detect photon recoils given off by thin foils, PINEX (pinhole imaging neutron experiment) which used a pinhole to focus radiation onto a fluoroscope, NUEX (neutron experiment) which measured neutron output, and TOMEX (tomographic reconstruction experiment) which imaged the device using a streak camera. These experiments used line of sight (LOS) pipes to channel gamma, x-ray and neutron radiation from the device to them.[11]
Gabbs was planned for early 1993 in Area 2. Unlike Icecap, no diagnostics canister is assembled at the site.[9]
Greenwater, a Lawrence Livermore test, was to be fired in Area 19,[10] and was a test of an x-ray laser system.[12] The test was cancelled 16 July 1992.[13] The Greenwater nuclear device had already been assembled at the time of cancellation, and had to be dismantled.[14]
A fourth test, Mighty Uncle, was planned for 1993. This test was to be a follow-up to Hunters Trophy.[3] Two other tests, Dolomite and Mexia were also planned.[15] Mexia was planned for Area 19.[16]
Both Gabbs and Greenwater were verifiable tests, meaning that under the Threshold Test Ban Treaty, Russia was permitted to have observers and measurement equipment on site to verify that the test yields did not exceed 150 kilotonnes of TNT (630 TJ).[17]
| Name [note 2] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone[note 3][18] | Location[note 4] | Elevation + height [note 5] | Delivery [note 6] Purpose [note 7] | Device[note 8] | Yield[note 9] | Fallout[note 10] | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lubbock | October 18, 1991 19:12:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3mt 37.06338°N 116.04616°W | 1,213 m (3,980 ft)–457.2 m (1,500 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development | 53 kt | Venting detected, 0.1 Ci (3.7 GBq) | [1][19][20][21][22] | ||
| Junction | March 26, 1992 16:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U19bg 37.27241°N 116.36065°W | 2,013 m (6,604 ft)–622 m (2,041 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development | 100 kt | [1][21][22] | Treaty verification test. | ||
| Diamond Fortune | April 30, 1992 16:30:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U12p.05 37.23413°N 116.15823°W | 1,656 m (5,433 ft)–236 m (774 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect | 3 kt | Venting detected, 0.2 Ci (7.4 GBq) | [1][20][21][22] | ||
| Victoria | June 19, 1992 16:45:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3kv 37.00537°N 116.01101°W | 1,179 m (3,868 ft)–244 m (801 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development | 80 t | [1][21][22][23] | |||
| Galena-Green - 3 | June 23, 1992 15:00:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U9cv 37.12384°N 116.03232°W | 1,269 m (4,163 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment | less than 5 kt | [1][21][22] | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
| Galena-Orange - 2 | June 23, 1992 15:00:00.07 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U9cv 37.12384°N 116.03232°W | 1,269 m (4,163 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment | less than 5 kt | [1][21][22] | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
| Galena-Yellow - 1 | June 23, 1992 15:00:00.072 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U9cv 37.12384°N 116.03232°W | 1,269 m (4,163 ft)–400 m (1,300 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development | less than 5 kt | [1][21][22] | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
| Hunters Trophy | September 18, 1992 17:00:00.078 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U12n.24 37.20687°N 116.21085°W | 1,827 m (5,994 ft)–385.3 m (1,264 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect | 4 kt | Venting detected, 1 Ci (37 GBq) | [1][19][20][21][22] | Test included experiment Hydroplus.[6] | |
| Divider | September 23, 1992 15:04:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) | NTS Area U3ml 37.02063°N 115.98878°W | 1,208 m (3,963 ft)–426 m (1,398 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development | 5 kt | Venting detected, 0.1 Ci (3.7 GBq) | [1][20][21][22] | Last U.S. nuclear test; "test to ensure safety of deterrent forces". |
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