Document Details
Title:
PROJECT SEDAN - THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION DETONATED A THERMONUCLEAR DEVICE OF APPROXIMATELY 100 KILOTONS IN DESERT ALLUVIAL SOIL AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE
Author(s):
UNK, [LAWRENCE RADIATION LABORATORY, U. OF CA]
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
OTHER
Document Type Other:
AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL
Publication Date:
1962 Jul 06
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0002
Accession Number:
NV0097227
Document Number(s):
AEC626786
Originating Research Org.:
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION-ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION,
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
ON JULY 06, 1962 THE USAEC DETONATED A THERMONUCLEAR DEVICE OF APPROXI MATELY 100 KILOTONS (EQUIVALENT TO 100,000 TONS OF TNT) IN DESERT ALLU VIAL SOIL AT ITS NTS. PROJECT SEDAN THE FIRST NUCLEAR EXCAVATION EXPE RIMENT IN THE COMMISSIONS PLOWSHARE PROGRAM WAS CONDUCTED TO DEVELOP T HE TECHNOLOGY FOR USING NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES IN EARTHMOVING PROJECTS. S UCH PROJECTS INCLUDE THE EXCAVATION OF CANALS AND HARBORS BUILDING DAM S AND REMOVING OVERBURDEN IN MINING OPERATIONS. THE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE WAS EMPLACED IN A 36 INCH DIAMETER CASED HOLE AT THE DEPTH OF 635 FEE T. IT WAS A RELATIVELY CLEAN DEVICE IN WHICH FISSION CONTRIBUTED LESS THAN 30 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL YIELD. ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THE RADIOACTI VITY PRODUCED BY THE EXPLOSION WAS TRAPPED UNDERGROUND MOST OF THE SMA LL AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVITY WHICH WAS NOT TRAPPED UNDERGRTOUND WAS DEPO SITED CLOSE TO THE CRATER WITH THE FALL BACK OF EARTH. THIS PHOTOGRAP H SHOWS THE CRATER FORMED BY THE DETONATION IT MEASURES ABOUT 1,200 FE ET IN DIAMETER AND 320 FEET DEEP. THE PREDICTED CRATER DIAMETER WAS 1 ,200 TO 1,400 AND THE PREDICTED DEPTH ABOUT 170 TO 300 FEET. ABOUT 7. 5 CUBIC YARDS OF EARTH WERE REMOVED BY THE EXPLOSION SOME OF THE EARTH CAN BE SEEN CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE CRATER. THE LIP OF THE CRATER V ARIES IN HEIGHT FROM ABOUT 20 TO ALMOST 100 FEET.