1966–70 French nuclear tests

Series of French nuclear tests List of nuclear weapons tests of France 1966–1970 Canopus, the first French two-staged thermonuclear device France Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll; Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP) 1966–1970 22 air drop, balloon, barge, dry surface 2.6 MtTNT in In Ekker series, French nuclear tests 1971–74 French nuclear tests 1966–70 French nuclear tests The France's 1966–1970 nuclear test series was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted in 1966–1970. These tests followed the In Ekker series and preceded the 1971–1974 French nuclear tests series. + France's 1966–1970 series tests and detonations Name The United States, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known. Date time (UT) Local time zoneTo convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.Time Zone Historical Database iana.com http://www.ietf.org/timezones/ March 8, 2014 LocationRough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area. Elevation + height Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together. Delivery,Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down. DeviceDesignations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed. YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie). FalloutRadioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released. References Notes AldébaranAldébaran dmy 1966 7 2 15:34:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.868611 -139.001944 Aldébaran inline 000000-35 m on + 10 m on barge,weapons development AN-52 000280000 28 kt An experimental tactical weapon. Fired on the third try. TamouréTamouré dmy 1966 7 19 15:05:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): 85 km E -21.743649 -138.002247 Tamouré inline 0010055 m on + 1000 m on air drop,weapons development AN-11 000500000 50 kt The Development and History of the Mirage IVA https://www.aerosociety.com/news/the-development-and-history-of-the-mirage-iva/ 2021-07-14 Royal Aeronautical SocietyOpération Tamouré (1) http://aviateurs.e-monsite.com/pages/1946-et-annees-suivantes/operation-tamoure-1.html 2021-07-14 aviateurs.e-monsite.com fr Dropped by a Mirage IV jet (Mirage IV A sn 9), France's first dropped tests. GanymèdeGanymède dmy 1966 7 21 12:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll: Colette ~ -21.780835 -138.903544 Ganymède inline 0000175 m on + 12 m on dry surface,safety experiment AN-22 000000000 no yield BételgeuseBételgeuse dmy 1966 9 11 17:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.791667 -138.892500 Bételguese inline 0004755 m on + 470 m on balloon,weapons development MR-31 001100000 110 kt Contrary to popular belief, the radiological fallout moved to the northeast without causing radioactive contamination of the civilian population.https://inis.iaea.org/records/rxw6g-jn510 The atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa (French Polynesia). The nuclear testings. Radiological aspects Martin G. CEA Saclay Dir des Systemes d'Information 2007-01-01 CEA Saclay, Dir. des Systemes d'Information, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France) CEA-R--6136 French RigelRigel dmy 1966 9 24 17:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.240001 -138.722784 Rigel inline 000000-35 m on + 3 m on barge,weapons development 001250000 125 kt Boosted fission device. SiriusSirus dmy 1966 10 4 21:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.871667 -139.003333 Sirus inline 000000-35 m on + 10 m on barge,weapons development 002050000 205 kt AltairAltair dmy 1967 6 5 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise -21.789 -138.895 Altair inline 0003005 m on + 295 m on balloon,weapons development 000150000 15 kt AntarèsAntarès dmy 1967 6 27 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.865 -139 Antarès inline 0003455 m on + 340 m on balloon,weapons development 001200000 120 kt ArcturusArcturus dmy 1967 7 2 17:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise -21.786389 -138.892500 Arcturus inline 000000-35 m on + 3 m on barge,weapons development 000220000 22 kt Intended for a balloon, instead detonated at ground level, resulting in severe downwind fallout. CapellaCapella dmy 1968 7 7 22:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83 -138.88 Capella inline 0004685 m on + 463 m on balloon,weapons development 001150000 115 kt CastorCastor dmy 1968 7 15 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83 -138.88 Castor inline 0006555 m on + 650 m on balloon,weapons development MR-41 004500000 450 kt PolluxPollux dmy 1968 8 3 21:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83 -138.88 Pollux inline 0004955 m on + 490 m on balloon,weapons development MR-41 001500000 150 kt CanopusCanopus dmy 1968 8 24 18:30:00.5 TAHT (–10 hr) Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.243336 -138.725009 Canopus inline 0005255 m on + 520 m on balloon,weapons development 026000000 2.6 Mt First French thermonuclear detonation. It contaminated Fangataufa so highly that it lay unused for the next six years. ProcyonProcyon dmy 1968 9 8 19:00:01 TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.821 -138.975 Procyon inline 0007055 m on + 700 m on balloon,weapons development 012800000 1.3 Mt AndromèdeAndromède dmy 1970 5 15 18:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83 -138.88 Andromède inline 0002255 m on + 220 m on balloon,weapons development 000130000 13 kt CassiopéeCassiopée dmy 1970 5 22 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83 -138.88 Cassiopée inline 0005055 m on + 500 m on balloon,weapons development TN-60 002240000 224 kt DragonDragon dmy 1970 5 30 17:59:59.9 TAHT (–10 hr) Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.239176 -138.723889 Dragon inline 0005055 m on + 500 m on balloon,weapons development 009450000 945 kt EridanEridan dmy 1970 6 24 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83 -138.88 Eridan inline 0002255 m on + 220 m on balloon,weapons development 000120000 12 kt LicorneLicorne dmy 1970 7 3 18:30:00.3 TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.80802 -138.91727 Licorne inline 0005055 m on + 500 m on balloon,weapons development TN-60 009140000 914 kt Six hours after the test, French Defense Minister Michel Debré swam in the lagoon as a PR ploy. PégasePégase dmy 1970 7 27 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83 -138.88 Pégase inline 0002255 m on + 220 m on balloon,weapons development 000000500 50 t OrionOrion dmy 1970 8 2 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.233889 -138.716944 Orion inline 0004055 m on + 400 m on balloon,weapons development 000720000 72 kt ToucanToucan dmy 1970 8 6 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr) Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83 -138.88 Toucan inline 0005055 m on + 500 m on balloon,weapons development 005940000 594 kt note References Norris Robert S. Andrew S. Burrows Richard W. Fieldhouse 1994 Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol. 5: British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons Westview Press Boulder, CO International Atomic Energy Agency 1998 The Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, Main Report Vienna, Austria http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1028_web.pdf December 19, 2013 92-0-101198-9 March 1, 2007 La Dimension Radiologique des Essais Nucleaires Francais en Polynesie Ministry of Defense http://www-dam.cea.fr/dossiers/Mururoa/img/La_dimension_radiologique_des_essais_nucleaires_francais_en_Polynesie.pdf December 19, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20170909065129/http://www-dam.cea.fr/dossiers/Mururoa/img/La_dimension_radiologique_des_essais_nucleaires_francais_en_Polynesie.pdf 2017-09-09 dead Yang Xiaoping Robert North Carl Romney August 2000 CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) SMDC Monitoring Research Andryushin L. A. N. P. Voloshin R. I. Ilkaev A. M. Matushchenko L. D. Ryabev V. G. Strukov A. K. Chernyshev Yu. A. Yudin 1999 Catalog of Worldwide Nuclear Testing RFNC-VNIIEF Sarov, Russia http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/ December 18, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131219131618/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/ December 19, 2013 Category:1966 in France Category:1967 in France Category:1968 in France Category:1969 in France Category:1970 in France Category:French nuclear weapons testing