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U.S. Department of Energy
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Project CANNIKIN D+30 Day Report: Preliminary Operational and Test Results Summary

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4701483· OSTI ID:4701483
CANNIKIN, a test of a nuclear device for the Spartan Antiballistic Missile, was conducted at Amchitka Island, Alaska, at 11:00 a.m., Bering Standard Time (BST), November 6, 1971. The device, designed and constructed by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL), was emplaced 5,875 feet below the surface and was detonated from a control point on the Island some 23 miles distant. The seismic measurements indicate that the device performed as expected with a yield of less than five megatons. Work has begun to obtain samples of the device debris. This entails drilling back into the shot region to obtain rock samples in which the device debris is incorporated. If the work proceeds on schedule, postshot drilling is expected to be completed by Spring 1972. The analyses of the material obtained are required to evaluate fully the performance of the Spartan warhead. There has been no release of radioactive effluent as a result of CANNIKIN and no large earthquake was triggered from the detonation. Teleseismically, the shock had a body-wave magnitude of 6.8 and a surface-wave magnitude of 5.7. CANNIKIN did not produce a measurable tsunami. Bioenvironmental effects were noticeable, but were confined to the Island and the waters immediately around it. Except for slight but noticeable ground motion at Adak and Shemya, no effects have been reported from any off-Island location.
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Las Vegas, NV (United States). Nevada Operations Office
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
NSA Number:
NSA-26-022734
OSTI ID:
4701483
Report Number(s):
NVO--108
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English