Project 58/58A facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Project 58/58A |
|
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Period | 1957–1958 |
| Number of tests | 4 |
| Test type | dry surface, underground shaft, tunnel |
| Max. yield | 500 tonnes of TNT (2,100 GJ) |
Operation Project 58/58A was a series of 4 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1957–1958 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Plumbbob series and preceded the Operation Hardtack I series.
All the tests in Project 58 were one-point safety tests. They were intended to freeze device designs prior to full-scale tests at Operation Hardtack I. No significant yield was expected from either, but the second, Coulomb-C, a surface test conducted on December 9, produced an unanticipated yield of 500 tons. Shortly after detonation, fallout readings of fifty roentgens per hour were recorded on the Mercury Highway, and, as the cloud moved toward the southwest, personnel at Jackass Flats involved in construction for future nuclear rocket testing were forced to take cover. Eventually, the cloud reached the Los Angeles area where readings caused public concern.
| Name | Pascal-C | Coulomb-C | Venus | Uranus |
| Date time (UT) | December 6, 1957 20:15:00.0 | December 9, 1957 20:00:?? | February 22, 1958 01:00:00 | March 14, 1958 22:00:00 |
| Local time zone | PST (–8 hrs) | PST (–8 hrs) | PST (–8 hrs) | PST (–8 hrs) |
| Location | NTS Area U3e 37°03′00″N 116°01′54″W / 37.04992°N 116.03159°W | NTS Area S3i 37°02′39″N 116°01′50″W / 37.0443°N 116.0305°W | NTS Area U12d.01 37°11′41″N 116°12′02″W / 37.19475°N 116.20068°W | NTS Area U12c.01 37°11′36″N 116°12′01″W / 37.193397°N 116.20014°W |
| Elevation + height | 1,202 m (3,944 ft)–80 m (260 ft) | 1,225 m (4,019 ft) + 0 | 2,104 m (6,903 ft)–30.48 m (100.0 ft) | 2,068 m (6,785 ft)–34.75 m (114.0 ft) |
| Delivery Purpose |
underground shaft, safety experiment |
dry surface, safety experiment |
tunnel, safety experiment |
tunnel, safety experiment |
| Device | XW-42 ? | Moccasin | XW-47 primary ? | XW-48 |
| Yield | 10 t | 500 t | 500 kg | 500 kg |
| Fallout | I-131 venting detected, 69 kCi (2,600 TBq) | |||
| Notes | One point safety test, partially successful (?). | One point safety test, upper bound overtest. Similar to the Moccasin device fired in Hardtack II Hidalgo. Failure, 500 ton explosion. | One point safety test, partially successful (?). Similar to Hardtack II Oberon and Sanford devices. | One point safety test, partially successful (?). Similar to devices fired in Hardtack II Mars, Tamalpais, and Ceres. |
See also
In Spanish: Proyecto 58 para niños
