Photos: Atmospheric Nuclear Testing — Nevada Test Site

Photo Top Left -- The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) triggered the atomic bomb called Priscilla on June 24, 1957 at the Nevada Test Site. According to U.S. Department of Energy documents, Priscilla was a balloon type test, it was weapons related, and had a yield of 37 kill tons.

Photo Top Right -- This photo was taken on November 1, 1951 and was the "Dog" detonation. It was conducted as part of the Buster/Jangle test series between October and November of 1951. It was an airdrop with a yield of 21 kilotons. Another event  

Photo Center Left -- On December 18, 1970, the Baneberry underground nuclear test was conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS); the event released radioactivity to the atmosphere. Baneberry had a yield of ten kilotons (a kiloton is the equivalent of 1,000 tons of TNT). The nuclear bomb was buried about 900 feet beneath the surface of Yucca Flat near the northern boundary of the NTS. The radiation release or venting resulted in a cloud of radioactive dust that reached an altitude of 10,000 feet. Following the Baneberry venting, new containment procedures were adopted to prevent similar occurrences.

Photo Center Right -- The Stokes atmospheric nuclear test was conducted at the Nevada Test Site on August 7, 1957. The tests was conducted as part the operation "Plumbbob" testing events. Stokes produced 9 kilotons and was exploded from a balloon.

Photo Bottom Right -- This above ground atmospheric nuclear test was conducted at the Nevada Test Site on May 25, 1953. Named Grable the nuclear bomb was fired from a 280 mm gun. The test was an airburst, it was weapons related and had an estimated yield range of 15 Kiloton.

Readers Note:  Between the years 1945 and 1992 the United States government conducted 1,030 nuclear tests. Two hundred ten (210) were classified as atmospheric tests, 815 were detonated underground, and 5 were exploded underwater. One hundred (100) atmospheric tests and 804 underground tests were detonated at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). For additional statistical information about nuclear testing see the U.S. Department of Energy's website.

Note -- Detailed informatio about atmospheric testing is available on the web at: Anno Atomi.

March 2002 -- National Cancer Institute Study Estimating Thyroid Doses of I-131 Received by Americans From Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Test

Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests is a report from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The report contains results from a study to assess Americans' exposures to radioactive iodine-131 fallout from atmospheric nuclear bomb tests carried out at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s and 1960s. This report was mandated by Congress under Public Law 97-414.

Results of the study show that, depending on their age at the time of the tests, where they lived, and what foods they consumed, particularly milk, Americans were exposed to varying levels of I-131 for about two months following each of the 90 tests. The report, published in full on this website, provides the technical details of this study.

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