Operation Guardian facts for kids

Operation Guardian was a series of 14 nuclear tests performed by the United States. These tests happened between 1980 and 1981. They took place at a special area called the Nevada Test Site.

These tests were part of a bigger plan. They happened after a series called Operation Tinderbox. After Operation Guardian, another series of tests, Operation Praetorian, began.

What Was Operation Guardian?

Operation Guardian was a group of experiments. The United States conducted these experiments to test nuclear weapons. There were 14 separate tests in total.

All the tests were done underground. This means the explosions happened deep below the Earth's surface. They used shafts (deep holes) and tunnels for these tests.

When Did These Tests Happen?

The tests in Operation Guardian took place over two years. The first test was in October 1980. The last test in this series was in September 1981.

Where Were the Tests Conducted?

All 14 tests were carried out at the Nevada Test Site. This is a large area in the state of Nevada, USA. It was specifically used for testing nuclear devices.

Why Were These Tests Done?

The main reason for Operation Guardian was to develop and improve nuclear weapons. Scientists wanted to understand how these weapons worked. They also tested new designs.

Some tests were for "weapons development." This means they were trying to make new or better nuclear bombs. Other tests were for "weapon effect." This helped them understand how the explosions would impact different things.

One test, called Dauphin, was an "experimental test." It was used to explore a new idea for a nuclear-powered X-ray laser. The Baseball test was a "stockpile confidence test." This means it checked if existing weapons were still working correctly.

How Powerful Were the Tests?

The power of these tests varied a lot. Some were quite small, with a yield of "less than 20 kilotons." A kiloton is a measure of explosive power. It's equal to 1,000 tons of TNT.

The largest test in Operation Guardian was called Harzer. It had a yield of 140 kilotons. This was the most powerful explosion in the entire series.

What About Fallout?

When nuclear tests happen, they can sometimes release nuclear fallout. Fallout is radioactive material that can spread into the environment. For some tests in Operation Guardian, "venting" was detected. This means some radioactive gases escaped from the underground test site.

For example, the Miners Iron test had a small amount of venting. The Islay test had more venting detected. Scientists monitored these releases carefully.