List of nuclear tests 2189647 224608469 2008-07-09T17:12:31Z Binksternet 4967956 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 224608352 by [[Special:Contributions/Binksternet|Binksternet]] ([[User talk:Binksternet|talk]])Oops, slip of the mouse {{nuclear weapons}} {{main|Nuclear testing}} The following is a '''list of [[nuclear testing|nuclear test]]''' series designations, organized first by [[country]] and then by date. For more information on countries with nuclear weapons, see [[List of countries with nuclear weapons]]. For more information on nuclear weapon arsenals, see [[List of nuclear weapons]]. ==Nuclear tests by known nuclear countries== === United States of America === {{main|Nuclear weapons and the United States}} The {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[United States]]''' conducted around 1,054 nuclear tests (by official count) between 1945 and 1992. Most of the tests took place at the [[Nevada Test Site]] and the [[Pacific Proving Grounds]] in the [[Marshall Islands]]. Ten other tests took place at various locations in the United States, including [[Alaska]], [[Colorado]], [[Mississippi]], and [[New Mexico]]. ====1945–1963==== {| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Year ! Series ! No. shots ! Total yields ! Location(s) ! Image ! Notes |- ||'''[[1945]]''' ||''[[Trinity test|Trinity]]'' |align="right"|1 |align="right"|20 [[kiloton|kt]] ||[[Alamogordo, New Mexico]] ||[[Image:Trinity explosion.jpg|50px|The "Trinity" fireball]] ||First ever nuclear explosion. |- ||'''[[1946]]''' ||''[[Operation Crossroads|Crossroads]]'' |align="right"|2 |align="right"|46 kt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Operation Crossroads Baker (wide).jpg|50px|"Baker" shot]] ||First postwar test series. First [[Underwater explosion|underwater nuclear explosion]]. |- ||'''[[1948]]''' ||''[[Operation Sandstone|Sandstone]]'' |align="right"|3 |align="right"|104 kt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Sandstone X-Ray.jpg|50px|Shot "X-Ray" of Operation Sandstone.]] ||The first use of "levitated" cores. Developed the Mark IV warhead. |- ||'''[[1951]]''' ||''[[Operation Ranger|Ranger]]'' |align="right"|5 |align="right"|40 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Ranger Fox.jpg|50px|Shot "Fox" of Operation Ranger.]] ||First tests at the [[Nevada Test Site]]. |- ||'''[[1951]]''' ||''[[Operation Greenhouse|Greenhouse]]'' |align="right"|4 |align="right"|398.5 kt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Greenhouse Item.jpg|50px|The "Item" fireball.]] ||"George" shot was physics experiment relating to the hydrogen bomb; "Item" shot was first [[boosted fission weapon]]. |- ||'''[[1951]]''' ||''[[Operation Buster-Jangle|Buster-Jangle]]'' |align="right"|7 |align="right"|71.9 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:November 1951 nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.jpg|50px|Troops during the "Buster Dog" shot.]] ||Many shots done in conjunction with troop exercises on ground. |- ||'''[[1952]]''' ||''[[Operation Tumbler-Snapper|Tumbler-Snapper]]'' |align="right"|7 |align="right"|104 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Tumbler Snapper rope tricks.jpg|50px|A "Snapper" shot shows the "rope trick effect".]] ||Operation "Snapper" tested a number of new devices, and also explored the "[[rope trick effect]]". |- ||'''[[1952]]''' ||''[[Operation Ivy|Ivy]]'' |align="right"|2 |align="right"|10.9 [[megaton|Mt]] ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Ivy Mike H Bomb.jpg|50px|The "Mike" mushroom cloud.]] ||"[[Ivy Mike|Mike]]" shot was first hydrogen bomb; "[[Ivy King|King]]" shot was largest pure-fission bomb (500 kt). |- ||'''[[1953]]''' ||''[[Operation Upshot-Knothole|Upshot-Knothole]]'' |align="right"|11 |align="right"|252.4 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Upshot-Knothole GRABLE.jpg|50px|Shot "Grable" and the "atomic cannon".]] ||Grable shot used a 280mm AFAP [[Artillery.Fired.Atomic.Projectile]] cannon. |- ||'''[[1954]]''' ||''[[Operation Castle|Castle]]'' |align="right"|6 |align="right"|48.2 Mt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Castle Romeo.jpg|50px|The "Romeo" mushroom cloud.]] ||Deployable thermonuclears. "[[Castle Bravo|Bravo]]" was over twice as large as expected (most powerful ever by U.S.) and spread [[nuclear fallout|fallout]] over a wide area. Hydrogen bombs that used cryogenic fuel were obsolete. |- ||'''[[1955]]''' ||''[[Operation Teapot|Teapot]]'' |align="right"|14 |align="right"|167.8 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Teapot Tesla.jpg|50px|The "Tesla" fireball.]] ||First successful designs by [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (after two years of trying). |- ||'''[[1955]]''' ||''[[Operation Wigwam|Wigwam]]'' |align="right"|1 |align="right"|30 kt ||[[Pacific Ocean]] ||[[Image:Wigwam.JPG|50px|The "Wigwam" detonation.]] ||A single shot, 2000 ft underwater, to determine the vulnerability of submarines to nuclear explosions. |- ||'''[[1955]]''' ||''[[Project 56]]'' |align="right"|4 |align="right"|.01 to .1 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || ||Four 'one-point' safety tests, to ensure the safety of deployed designs. |- ||'''[[1956]]''' ||''[[Operation Redwing|Redwing]]'' |align="right"|17 |align="right"|20.82 Mt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:Redwing Apache.jpg|50px|The "Apache" detonation.]] ||All thermonuclear weapons designs tests, including first "three stage" weapon test. |- ||'''[[1957]]''' ||''[[Operation Plumbbob|Plumbbob]]'' |align="right"|29 |align="right"|343.74 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Plumbbob Smoky.jpg|50px|Shot "Smoky" of Operation Plumbbob.]] ||One of the most controversial test series, release more radiation to continental U.S. than any series. Close proximity of troop exercises to shot "Smoky" produced significantly increased levels of [[leukemia]] among exposed soldiers. |- ||'''[[1957]]–[[1958|58]]''' ||''[[Project 57, 58, 58A]]'' |align="right"|5 |align="right"|0.5 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || ||Five 'one-point' safety tests, to ensure the safety of deployed designs. |- ||'''[[1958]]''' ||''[[Operation Chariot (1958)|Chariot]]'' |align="center" colspan="2"|''Cancelled'' ||[[Cape Thompson]], [[Alaska]] ||[[Image:Project Chariot plans.jpg|50px|The plans to use five thermonuclear explosions to create an artificial harbor in Alaska.]] ||Had planned to create an artificial harbor in [[Alaska]] as part of [[Operation Plowshare]] using thermonuclear explosions. Was eventually cancelled amid controversy and outcry. |- ||'''[[1958]]''' ||''[[Operation Hardtack|Hardtack I]]'' |align="right"|35 |align="right"|35.6 Mt ||[[Pacific Proving Grounds]] ||[[Image:HardtackOak.JPG|50px|Shot "Oak" of Operation Hardtack I.]] || |- ||'''[[1958]]''' ||''[[Operation Argus|Argus]]'' |align="right"|3 |align="right"|5.1 kt ||South [[Atlantic Ocean]] || ||Clandestine high-altitude test series carried out 1,110 miles southwest of [[South Africa]] to test whether nuclear explosions could create artificial [[Van Allen belt]]s in near space. |- ||'''[[1958]]''' ||''[[Operation Hardtack|Hardtack II]]'' |align="right"|37 |align="right"|45.8 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:HardtackSorocco.JPG|50px|Shot "Sorocco" of Operation Hardtack II.]] || |- ||'''[[1961]]–[[1962|62]]''' ||''[[Operation Nougat|Nougat]]'' |align="right"|32 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Carlsbad, New Mexico]] ||[[Image:Nougat Gnome.jpg|50px|The underground cavity created by the "Gnome" shot.]] ||First [[underground nuclear testing|all-underground test]] series. Included [[Operation Plowshare]] shot "Gnome" in [[Carlsbad, New Mexico]], which was detonated in an underground [[salt dome]]. |- ||'''[[1962]]–[[1963|63]]''' ||''[[Operation Dominic|Dominic]]'' |align="right"|36 |align="right"|38.1 Mt ||[[Kiritimati|Christmas Island]], [[Johnston Island]], Central [[Pacific Ocean]] ||[[Image:Dominic Starfish-Prime nuke.jpg|50px|"Starfish-Prime" in the upper atmosphere.]] ||"Frigate Bird" was the only operational test of a missile "mated" with a live warhead. Series also included three high-altitude tests known as [[Operation Fishbowl]]. |- ||'''[[1962]]–[[1963|63]]''' ||''[[Operation Storax|Storax]]'' |align="right"|48 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Sedan Plowshare Crater.jpg|50px|The "Sedan" crater.]] ||Included the "[[Sedan (nuclear test)|Sedan]]" test, a cratering experiment as part of [[Operation Plowshare]]. |- ||'''[[1962]]''' ||''[[Operation Sunbeam|Sunbeam]]'' |align="right"|4 |align="right"|2.19 kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[[Image:Small Boy nuclear test 1962.jpg|50px|The 1.65 kt "Small Boy" nuclear test of 1962.]] ||Test of small tactical warheads, including the man-portable "[[Davy Crockett (nuclear device)|Davy Crockett]]". Last atmospheric test series. |- ||'''[[1963]]''' ||''[[Operation Roller Coaster|Roller Coaster]]'' |align="right"|4 |align="right"|0 ||[[Nellis Air Force Range]], [[Nevada]] || ||Storage-transportation safety experiment, measured plutonium dispersal risk. |} <!-- <gallery> Comment </gallery> --> ====1963–1992==== After the signing of the [[Partial Test Ban Treaty]] in 1963, all U.S. nuclear testing became [[underground nuclear testing|underground testing]]. {| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Year ! Series ! No. shots ! Total yields ! Location(s) ! Notes |- ||'''[[1964]]–[[1965|65]]''' ||''[[Operation Niblick|Niblick]]'' |align="right"|41 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1964]]–[[1965|65]]''' ||''[[Operation Whetstone|Whetstone]]'' |align="right"|48 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]] || |- ||'''[[1965]]–[[1966|66]]''' ||''[[Operation Flintlock (Nuclear test)|Flintlock]]'' |align="right"|48 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Amchitka]], [[Alaska]] || |- ||'''[[1966]]–[[1965|67]]''' ||''[[Operation Latchkey|Latchkey]]'' |align="right"|38 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]] || |- ||'''[[1967]]–[[1968|68]]''' ||''[[Operation Crosstie|Crosstie]]'' |align="right"|48 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Farmington, New Mexico]] ||Included "[[Gasbuggy]]" [[Operation Plowshare|Plowshare]] shot near [[Farmington, New Mexico]]. |- ||'''[[1968]]–[[1969|69]]''' ||''[[Operation Bowline|Bowline]]'' |align="right"|48 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1969]]''' ||''[[Operation Mandrel|Mandrel]]'' |align="right"|53 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]]; [[Grand Valley (Colorado)|Grand Valley, Colorado]]; [[Amchitka]], [[Alaska]] ||Included "[[Rulison]]" [[Operation Plowshare|Plowshare]] shot near [[Grand Valley (Colorado)|Grand Valley, Colorado]], and 1.2 Mt shot "Milrow" in Alaska. |- ||'''[[1970]]''' ||''[[Operation Emery|Emery]]'' |align="right"|16 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1971]]–[[1972|72]]''' ||''[[Operation Grommet|Grommet]]'' |align="right"|34 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Amchitka]], [[Alaska]] || |- ||'''[[1972]]–[[1973|73]]''' ||''[[Operation Toggle|Toggle]]'' |align="right"|28 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]], [[Rifle, Colorado]] ||Included Plowshare "Rio Blanco" test for gas stimulation |- ||'''[[1973]]–[[1974|74]]''' ||''[[Operation Arbor|Arbor]]'' |align="right"|19 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1974]]–[[1975|75]]''' ||''[[Operation Bedrock|Bedrock]]'' |align="right"|27 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1975]]–[[1976|76]]''' ||''[[Operation Anvil (Nuclear test)|Anvil]]'' |align="right"|21 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1976]]–[[1977|77]]''' ||''[[Operation Fulcrum|Fulcrum]]'' |align="right"|21 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||All "weapons related" tests. |- ||'''[[1977]]–[[1978|78]]''' ||''[[Operation Cresset|Cresset]]'' |align="right"|23 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1978]]–[[1979|79]]''' ||''[[Operation Quicksilver (1978)|Quicksilver]]'' |align="right"|18 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1979]]–[[1980|80]]''' ||''[[Operation Tinderbox|Tinderbox]]'' |align="right"|15 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1980]]–[[1981|81]]''' ||''[[Operation Guardian|Guardian]]'' |align="right"|16 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1981]]–[[1982|82]]''' ||''[[Operation Praetorian|Praetorian]]'' |align="right"|22 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1982]]–[[1983|83]]''' ||''[[Operation Phalanx|Phalanx]]'' |align="right"|19 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1983]]–[[1984|84]]''' ||''[[Operation Fusileer|Fusileer]]'' |align="right"|17 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1984]]–[[1985|85]]''' ||''[[Operation Grenadier|Grenadier]]'' |align="right"|17 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1985]]–[[1986|86]]''' ||''[[Operation Charioteer|Charioteer]]'' |align="right"|18 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||[http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5363382&query_id=0 Mighty Oak] test using the [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/W87.html Mk-21 RV] warhead. was conducted on [[April 10]] [[1986]]. Containment failed and later [http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5455082&query_id=0 radiation was released]. Secondary sources put this venting into at 36,000 curies, which is 2000 times greater than the 3 Mile Island incident. Sources: [http://www.ratical.org/radiation/inetSeries/RB86.html Dr. Rosalie Bertell], [http://epw.senate.gov/107th/ebe_0412.htm Dr. Bonnie Eberhardt], [http://www.citizensedproject.org/van_dam.pdf journalist Paul Van Dam]. |- ||'''[[1986]]–[[1987|87]]''' ||''[[Operation Musketeer (Nuclear test)|Musketeer]]'' |align="right"|15 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1987]]–[[1988|88]]''' ||''[[Operation Touchstone|Touchstone]]'' |align="right"|14 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1988]]–[[1989|89]]''' ||''[[Operation Cornerstone|Cornerstone]]'' |align="right"|12 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1989]]–[[1990|90]]''' ||''[[Operation Aqueduct|Aqueduct]]'' |align="right"|11 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1990]]–[[1991|91]]''' ||''[[Operation Sculpin|Sculpin]]'' |align="right"|8 |align="right"| ||[[Nevada Test Site]] || |- ||'''[[1991]]–[[1992|92]]''' ||''[[Operation Julin|Julin]]'' |align="right"|8 |align="right"|<460kt ||[[Nevada Test Site]] ||Last nuclear test series. Last shot was "Divider" ([[September 23]], [[1992]]). Exact yields not released. |} A number of shots whose goals were to assess the non-military use of nuclear weapons were known as [[Operation Plowshare]], and done during many different test series. The United States has not conducted any tests since 1992, though they have conducted a number of sub-critical tests (which do not involve a chain reaction). === Soviet Union === {{main|Soviet atomic bomb project}} The {{flagicon|USSR}} '''[[Soviet Union]]''' conducted 715 nuclear tests (by official count) [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Russia/Sovtestsum.html] between 1949 and 1990. Most of them took place at the [[Semipalatinsk Test Site]] in [[Kazakhstan]] and the [[Northern Test Site]] at [[Novaya Zemlya]]. Additional tests were conducted at various locations in [[Russia]] and Kazakhstan, while a small number of tests were conducted in [[Ukraine]], [[Uzbekistan]], and [[Turkmenia]]. Some significant Soviet tests include: *[[Joe 1|Operation First Lightning/RDS-1]] (known as [[Joe 1]] in the West), [[29 August]] [[1949]] — first Soviet nuclear test. *[[Joe 4|RDS-4]] (known as [[Joe 4]] in the West), [[12 August]] [[1953]] — first Soviet thermonuclear test (not a "true" hydrogen bomb). *[[RDS-37]], [[22 November]] [[1955]] — first Soviet multi-megaton, "true" hydrogen bomb test. *[[Tsar Bomba]], [[30 October]] [[1961]] — largest nuclear weapon ever detonated, with a yield of 50 Mt. *[[Chagan (nuclear test)|Chagan]], [[15 January]] [[1965]] — large cratering experiment as part of [[Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy]] program. The last Soviet test took place on [[October 24]], [[1990]]. After the dissolution of the USSR in 1992, [[Russia]] inherited their former nuclear stockpile, but has not conducted any nuclear tests. === UK === The [[United Kingdom|UK]] has conducted 45 tests (21 in [[Australia]]n territory, including 9 in mainland [[South Australia]] at [[British nuclear tests at Maralinga|Maralinga]] and Emu Field, many others in the U.S. as part of joint test series). Tests include: *[[Operation Hurricane]], [[3 October]], [[1952]] (first atomic bomb) *[[Operation Totem]], [[1953]] *[[Operation Mosaic]], [[1956]] *[[Operation Buffalo]], [[1956]] *[[Operation Antler]], [[1957]] *[[Operation Grapple]], [[1957]]–[[1958]] (first hydrogen bomb) Last test: [[Julin Bristol]], [[November 26]], [[1991]], vertical shaft. Atmospheric tests involving nuclear material but conventional explosions:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2006/nuclear_test/dosimetry/pdf/dosimetry_chapter_1_introduction.pdf | title = Australian participants in British nuclear tests in Australia — Vol 1: Dosimetry | work = Australian Department of Veteran's Affairs | accessdate = 2007-12-24}}</ref> *[[Operation Kittens]], 1953-1961 (initiator tests using conventional explosive) *[[Operation Rats]], 1956-1960 (conventional explosions to study dispersal of uranium) * [[Operation Tims]], 1955-1963 (conventional explosions for tamper, plutonium compression trials) *[[Operation Vixen]], 1959-1963 (effects of accidental fire or explosion on nuclear weapons) === France ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Scorpion]] --> {{main|France and nuclear weapons}} France conducted 210 nuclear tests between [[February 13]], [[1960]] and [[January 27]], [[1996]]. [http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/essais_nucleaire_francais_listing.htm] *[[Operation Gerboise bleue]], [[February 13]],[[1960]] (first atomic bomb) and three more — [[Reggane]], [[Algeria]]; in the atmosphere; final test reputed to be more intended to prevent the weapon from falling into the hands of generals rebelling against [[Charles de Gaulle]] than for testing purposes. *[[Operation Agathe]], [[November 7]], [[1961]] and 12 more — [[In Ekker]], [[Hoggar]] Algeria; underground *[[Operation Aldébaran]], [[July 2]], [[1966]] and 45 more — [[Mururoa]] and [[Fangataufa]], [[French Polynesia]]; in the atmosphere; ** first hydrogen bomb: [[August 28]], [[1968]] [[Canopus (nuclear test)|Canopus]] (Fangataufa) * [[Operation Achille]] [[June 5]], [[1975]] and 146 more — Mururoa and Fangataufa, [[French Polynesia]]; underground **last test: [[January 27]], [[1996]] [[Operation Xouthos]] (Fangataufa) ===China=== The [[People's Republic of China]] conducted 45 tests (23 atmospheric and 22 underground, all conducted at [[Lop Nur]] Nuclear Weapons Test Base, in [[Malan]], [[Xinjiang]]) *First test: "[[596 (nuclear test)|596]]" — [[October 16]], [[1964]] *First hydrogen bomb: [[June 17]], [[1967]] *Last atmospheric test ever: [[October 16]], [[1980]] The last atmospheric nuclear explosion by China or any other country<ref name="his">[http://www.nti.org/db/china/testchr.htm#1980 Chinas Nuclear program in the 80's ] nti.org</ref> *Last test: [[July 29]], [[1996]], underground. === India === [[India]] conducted 5 or 6 tests, at [[Pokhran]]. *[[Operation Smiling Buddha]], [[18 May]], [[1974]] — implosion type, plutonium, underground, 6 to 20 kt *[[Operation Shakti]], all underground: **[[11 May]], [[1998]] — three simultaneously, of which one was claimed to be a fusion device (this is disputed by outsider observers) **[[13 May]], [[1998]] — two simultaneously === Pakistan === [[Pakistan]] conducted 6 tests in response to the Indian tests: *[[May 28]], [[1998]] — five simultaneous underground horizontal-shaft tunnel tests (inside a granite mountain) of boosted fission devices with the largest having a yield of approximately 30-35 kilotonnes at Koh Kambaran in the [[Ras Koh]] Hills in Chagai District of Balochistan Province.<ref name="def">[http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/chagai.htm When Mountains Move — The Story of Chagai] RAI MUHAMMAD SALEH AZAM, defencejournal.com</ref> *[[May 30]], [[1998]] — one underground vertical-shaft tunnel test of a miniaturized fission device having a yield of approximately 18-20 kilotonnes in the [[Kharan Desert]] in [[Kharan District]] of Balochistan Province.<ref name="def">[http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/chagai.htm When Mountains Move — The Story of Chagai] RAI MUHAMMAD SALEH AZAM, defencejournal.com</ref> {| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Year ! Series ! No. shots ! Total yields ! Location(s) ! Image ! Notes |- ||'''[[May 28]], [[1998]]''' ||''[[Chagai-I]]'' |align="right"|5 |align="right"|30-35 [[kiloton|kt]] ||Koh Kambaran, [[Ras Koh]] Hills, [[Chagai District]], [[Balochistan]], [[Pakistan]]. ||[[Image:Pakistan Nuclear Test.jpg|50px|Chagai-I]] ||Five simultaneous underground horizontal-shaft tunnel tests (inside a granite mountain) of boosted fission devices. |- ||'''[[May 30]], [[1998]]''' ||''[[Chagai-I]]'' |align="right"|1 |align="right"|18-20 [[kiloton|kt]] ||[[Kharan Desert]], [[Kharan District]], [[Balochistan]], [[Pakistan]]. || ||One underground vertical-shaft tunnel test of a miniaturized fission device. |} === North Korea === {{main|2006 North Korean nuclear test}} On [[October 9]], [[2006]] it was announced by North Korea they had conducted a nuclear test in [[North Hamgyong]] province on the northeast coast at 10:36 AM (11:30 AEST). There was a 3.58 magnitude earthquake reported in South Korea. There was a 4.2 magnitude tremor detected 240 miles north of P'yongyang. The low estimates on the yield of the test — potentially less than a kiloton in strength — have led to speculation as to whether it was a [[Effects of nuclear explosions#Other phenomena|fizzle]] (unsuccessful test), or a genuine ''nuclear'' test at all. ==Alleged tests== There have been a number of significant alleged/disputed/unacknowledged accounts of countries testing nuclear explosives. Their status is either not certain or entirely disputed by most mainstream experts. === Japan === There is a disputed report about the [[Japanese atomic program]] being able to test a nuclear weapon in Korea on [[August 12]] [[1945]], a few days after the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] on [[August 6]] and [[August 9|9]], and three days before the Japanese surrender on [[August 15]], but this is seen as being highly unlikely by mainstream historians. See [[Japanese atomic program]] for more information. === Israel/South Africa === In what is known as the [[Vela Incident]], [[Israel]] and/or [[South Africa]] may have detonated a nuclear device on [[September 22]], [[1979]] in the [[Indian Ocean]], according to satellite data. It is not certain whether there was actually a test, also it is not known who would have been responsible for it. See [[Vela Incident]] for more information. === North Korea === On [[September 9]], [[2004]] it was reported by South Korean media that there had been a large explosion at the Chinese/North Korean border. This explosion left a crater visible by satellite and precipitated a large (2 mile diameter) mushroom cloud. The United States and South Korea quickly downplayed this, explaining it away as a forest fire that had nothing to do with the DPRK's nuclear weapons program. See [[Ryanggang explosion]] for more information. === Germany === ''[[Hitlers Bombe]]'', a book published in German by the historian [[Rainer Karlsch]] in 2005, has alleged that there is evidence that [[Nazi Germany]] performed some sort of test of a "nuclear device" (a hybrid [[Nuclear fusion|fusion]] device unlike any modern nuclear weapons) in March 1945, though the evidence for this has not yet been fully evaluated, and has been doubted by many historians. ==Tests of live warheads on rockets== [[Image:FrigateBird nuke.pg.jpg|150px|right|thumb|The Frigate Bird explosion seen through the periscope of [[USS Carbonero]] (SS-337).]] Missiles and nuclear warheads have usually been tested separately, because testing them together is considered highly dangerous (they are the most extreme type of [[live fire exercise]]). The only US live test of an operational missile was the following: *Frigate Bird — on [[May 6]], [[1962]], a [[UGM-27 Polaris]] A-1 missile with a live 600 kt W47 warhead was launched from the [[USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608)]]; it flew 1900 km, re-entered the atmosphere, and detonated at an altitude of 3.4 km over the South Pacific. The test was part of [[Operation Dominic I and II|Operation Dominic I]]. Planned as a method to dispel doubts about whether the USA's nuclear missiles would actually function in practice, it had less effect than was hoped, as the stockpile warhead was substantially modified prior to testing, and the missile tested was a relatively low-flying [[SLBM]] and not a high-flying [[ICBM]]. Other live tests with the nuclear explosive delivered by rocket by the USA include: *[[Operation Argus]] — three tests *On [[August 1]], [[1958]], [[Redstone (rocket)|Redstone]] rocket #CC50 launched nuclear test Teak that detonated at an altitude of 77.8-km. On August 12, 1958, Redstone #CC51 launched nuclear test Orange to a detonation altitude of 43 km. Both were part of [[Operation Hardtack]] and had a yield of 3.75 Mt *On [[July 9]], [[1962]], [[PGM-17 Thor|Thor missile]] 195 launched a Mk4 reentry vehicle containing a W49 thermonuclear warhead to an altitude of 248 miles (400 km). The warhead detonated with a yield of 1.45 Mt. This was the [[Starfish Prime]] event of nuclear test operation [[Operation Dominic I and II|Dominic-Fishbowl]] *In the same series in 1962: Checkmate, Bluegill, Kingfish, and Tightrope The Soviet Union tested a number of nuclear explosives on rockets as part of their development of a localised [[anti-ballistic missile]] system in the 1960s. == List of most powerful nuclear tests == The following '''incomplete''' list contains nuclear tests conducted with a yield of over 10 Mt TNT. {| class="wikitable" ! Date ! Yield ! Test mode ! Country ! Test Site ! Remarks |- | October 30th, 1961 || 50 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya || Tsar-Bomba |- | December 24th, 1962 || 24.2 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya |- | August 5th, 1961 || 21.1 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya |- | September 25th, 1962 || 21.1 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya |- | February 28th, 1954 || 15 Mt || ground || USA || Eniwetok || Castle Bravo |- | May 5th, 1954 || 13.5 Mt || sea surface || USA || Eniwetok || Castle Yankee |- | October 23rd, 1961 || 12.5 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya |- | March 26th, 1954 || 11 Mt || sea surface || USA || Eniwetok || Castle Romeo |- | November 1st, 1952 || 10.4 Mt || ground || USA || Elugaleb || Ivy-Mike |- | September 27th, 1962 || 10 Mt || air-drop || Soviet Union || Novaya Zemlya |} Sources: http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Russia/Sovatmtest.html {{Expand|date=April 2008}} ==External links== *[http://www.downwinders.org DOWNWINDERS: We're All Downwinders Now] *[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/nuclear/usnuctests.htm United States Nuclear Tests July 1945 through September 1992] *[http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/nukexp_form.jsp Australian Government — Geoscience Australia — database of nuclear explosions since 1945] ==References== <references/> {{DEFAULTSORT:Nuclear tests}} [[Category:Nuclear tests| ]] [[Category:Lists of weapons]] [[Category:Technology-related lists]] [[Category:Timelines]] [[Category:History-related lists]] [[de:Liste der Kernwaffentests]] [[no:Liste over prøvesprengninger]]