List of nuclear weapons tests of the United States
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The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conducted around 1,054 nuclear tests (by official count) between 1945 and 1992. Most of the tests took place at the Nevada Test Site
Nevada Test Site
The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas...
and the Pacific Proving Grounds
Pacific Proving Grounds
The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962...
in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Ten other tests took place at various locations in the United States, including Alaska, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
1945–1958
| Year | Series | No. shots | Total yields | Location(s) | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Trinity | 1 | 20 kt | Alamogordo, New Mexico Alamogordo, New Mexico Alamogordo is the county seat of Otero County and a city in south-central New Mexico, United States. A desert community lying in the Tularosa Basin, it is bordered on the east by the Sacramento Mountains. It is the nearest city to Holloman Air Force Base. The population was 35,582 as of the 2000... |
First ever nuclear explosion. | |
| 1946 | Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... |
2 | 46 kt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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First postwar test series. First underwater nuclear explosion Underwater explosion An underwater explosion, also known as an UNDEX, is an explosion beneath the surface of water. The type of explosion may be chemical or nuclear... . |
| 1948 | Sandstone Operation Sandstone Operation Sandstone was a series of nuclear weapon tests in 1948. It was the third series of American tests, following Crossroads and preceding Ranger... |
3 | 104 kt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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The first use of "levitated" cores. Developed the Mark IV warhead. |
| 1951 | Ranger Operation Ranger Operation Ranger was the fourth American nuclear test series. It was conducted in 1951 and was the first series to be carried out at the Nevada Test Site. All the bombs were exploded in the open air, having been dropped by B-50 bombers.... |
5 | 40 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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First tests at the Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... . |
| 1951 | Greenhouse Operation Greenhouse Operation Greenhouse was the fifth American nuclear test series, the second conducted in 1951 and the first to test principles that would lead to developing thermonuclear weapons . Conducted at the new Pacific Proving Ground, all of the devices were mounted in large steel towers, to simulate air... |
4 | 398.5 kt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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"George" shot was physics experiment relating to the hydrogen bomb; "Item" shot was first boosted fission weapon Boosted fission weapon A boosted fission weapon usually refers to a type of nuclear bomb that uses a small amount of fusion fuel to increase the rate, and thus yield, of a fission reaction. The neutrons released by the fusion reactions add to the neutrons released in the fission, as well as inducing the fission reactions... . |
| 1951 | Buster-Jangle Operation Buster-Jangle Operation Buster-Jangle was a series of seven nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States in late 1951 at the Nevada Test Site. Buster-Jangle was the first joint test program between the DOD and Los Alamos National Laboratories. 6,500 troops were involved in the Desert Rock I, II, and III... |
7 | 71.9 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
Many shots done in conjunction with troop exercises on ground. | |
| 1952 | Tumbler-Snapper Operation Tumbler-Snapper Operation Tumbler-Snapper was a series of atomic tests conducted by the United States in early 1952 at the Nevada Test Site. The Tumbler-Snapper Series of tests followed Operation Buster-Jangle, and preceded Operation Ivy.... |
7 | 104 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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Operation "Snapper" tested a number of new devices, and also explored the "rope trick effect Rope trick effect thumb|200px|High-speed video clip of a nuclear explosion showing the rope trick effectRope trick is the term given by physicist John Malik to the curious lines and spikes which emanate from the fireball of certain nuclear explosions just after detonation.... ". |
| 1952 | Ivy Operation Ivy Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests, coming after Tumbler-Snapper and before Upshot-Knothole. Its purpose was to help upgrade the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons in response to the Soviet nuclear weapons program... |
2 | 10.9 Mt TNT equivalent TNT equivalent is a method of quantifying the energy released in explosions. The ton of TNT is a unit of energy equal to 4.184 gigajoules, which is approximately the amount of energy released in the detonation of one ton of TNT... |
Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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"Mike Ivy Mike Ivy Mike was the codename given to the first United States test of a thermonuclear weapon, in which a major part of the explosive yield came from nuclear fusion. It was detonated on November 1, 1952 by the United States at on Enewetak, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean, as part of Operation Ivy... " shot was first hydrogen bomb; "King Ivy King Ivy King was the largest pure fission nuclear bomb ever tested by the United States. The bomb was tested during the Truman administration as part of Operation Ivy... " shot was largest pure-fission bomb (500 kt). |
| 1953 | Upshot-Knothole Operation Upshot-Knothole Operation Upshot-Knothole was a series of eleven nuclear test shots conducted in 1953 at the Nevada Test Site.Over twenty-one thousand soldiers took part in the ground exercise Desert Rock V in conjunction with the Grable shot... |
11 | 252.4 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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Grable shot used a 280mm M65 Atomic cannon M65 Atomic Cannon The M65 Atomic Cannon, often called Atomic Annie, was a towed artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s, at the beginning of the Cold War, and fielded by 1953 in Europe and Korea.... . |
| 1954 | Castle Operation Castle Operation Castle was a United States series of high-energy nuclear tests by Joint Task Force SEVEN at Bikini Atoll beginning in March 1954... |
6 | 48.2 Mt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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Deployable thermonuclears. "Bravo Castle Bravo Castle Bravo was the code name given to the first U.S. test of a dry fuel thermonuclear hydrogen bomb device, detonated on March 1, 1954 at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, as the first test of Operation Castle. Castle Bravo was the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the United States ,... " was over twice as large as expected (most powerful ever by U.S.) and spread fallout Nuclear fallout Fallout is the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, so called because it "falls out" of the sky after the explosion and shock wave have passed. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust and ash created when a nuclear weapon explodes... over a wide area. Hydrogen bombs that used cryogenic fuel were obsolete. |
| 1955 | Teapot Operation Teapot Operation Teapot was a series of fourteen nuclear test explosions conducted at the Nevada Test Site in the first half of 1955.During shot "Wasp", ground forces took part in Exercise Desert Rock VI which included an armored task force "Razor" moving to within 900 meters of ground zero, under the... |
14 | 167.8 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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First successful designs by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952... (after two years of trying). |
| 1955 | Wigwam Operation Wigwam Operation Wigwam involved a single test of the Mark 90 Betty nuclear bomb. It was conducted between Operation Teapot and Operation Redwing on May 14, 1955, about 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California. 6,800 personnel aboard 30 ships were involved in Wigwam... |
1 | 30 kt | Pacific Ocean |  |
A single shot, 2000 ft underwater, to determine the vulnerability of submarines to nuclear explosions. |
| 1955-56 | Project 56 Project 56 (nuclear test) Project 56 was a series of one-point safety tests conducted in Area 11 of the Nevada Test Site between 1955 and 1956.- Introduction :The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether a weapon or warhead damaged in an accident would detonate with a nuclear yield, even if some or all of the... |
4 | .01 to .1 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
Four 'one-point' safety tests, to ensure the safety of deployed designs. | |
| 1956 | Redwing Operation Redwing Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls. The entire operation followed Operation Wigwam and preceded Operation Plumbbob. The primary intention was to test new, second-generation... |
17 | 20.82 Mt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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All thermonuclear weapons designs tests, including first "three stage" weapon test. |
| 1957 | Project 57 Project 57 Project 57 was a safety experiment conducted at the Nellis Air Force Range in 1957.- External links :***... |
1 | 0 t | Nellis Air Force Range Nevada Test and Training Range The Nevada Test and Training Range is a training facility of the United States Air Force located in the desert of southern Nevada in the United States. It is the largest of its kind in the US, and is operated by the USAF Warfare Center's 98th Range Wing... |
One 'one-point' safety test, to ensure the safety of deployed designs. | |
| 1957 | Plumbbob Operation Plumbbob Operation Plumbbob was a series of nuclear tests conducted between May 28 and October 7, 1957, at the Nevada Test Site, following Operation Redwing, and preceding Operation Hardtack I... |
29 | 343.74 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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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 Leukemia Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases... among exposed soldiers. |
| 1957 | July 19 | Nevada Test Site | air-to-air missile Air-to-air missile An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled... warhead detonated at 20,000 ft |
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| 1957–58 | Project 58 Project 58 Project 58 was a series of safety experiments conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1957.- External links :***... , Project 58A Project 58A Project 58A was a series of safety experiments conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1958.- External links :***... |
4 | 0.5 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
Four 'one-point' safety tests, to ensure the safety of deployed designs. | |
| 1958 | Chariot Operation Chariot (1958) Project Chariot was a 1958 US Atomic Energy Commission proposal to construct an artificial harbor at Cape Thompson on the North Slope of the U.S... |
Cancelled | Cape Thompson, Alaska |  |
Had planned to create an artificial harbor in Alaska as part of Operation Plowshare Operation Plowshare Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes... using thermonuclear explosions. Was eventually canceled amid controversy. |
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| 1958 | Operation Hardtack I Operation Hardtack I Operation Hardtack I was a series of 35 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958 in the Pacific Ocean.Operation Newsreel was a series of three high-altitude nuclear tests conducted as part of Hardtack I. The individual tests in the series were Orange, Teak and Yucca.-Test Blasts:-... |
35 | 35.6 Mt | Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands and a few other sites in the Pacific Ocean, used by the United States to conduct nuclear testing at various times between 1946 and 1962... |
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First live nuclear bomb launched by a missile (U.S. Army's PGM-11 Redstone) |
| 1958 | Argus Operation Argus Operation Argus was a series of nuclear weapons tests and missile tests secretly conducted during August and September 1958 over the South Atlantic Ocean by the United States's Defense Nuclear Agency, in conjunction with the Explorer 4 space mission. Operation Argus was conducted between the... |
3 | 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 belts in near space. | |
| 1958 | Operation Hardtack II Operation Hardtack II Operation Hardtack II was a series of 37 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1958 at the Nevada Test Site.With test moratoriums on the horizon, American weapons labs rushed out many new designs. After the conclusion of Hardtack II, the United States announced a unilateral testing... |
37 | 45.8 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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1959–1960
Voluntary moratorium terminates all nuclear testing for the US along with the USSR and the UK. Moratorium is broken by France, becoming the fourth nuclear state with its test, "Gerboise bleue", on February 13, 1960.1961–1963
| Year | Series | No. shots | Total yields | Location(s) | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Nougat Operation Nougat Operation Nougat was a series of 45 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1961 and 1962, immediately after the Soviet Union abrogated a testing moratorium, with the US' "Mink" test shot taking place the day before the Soviets test-detonated the Tsar Bomba. Most tests were... |
32 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Carlsbad, New Mexico Carlsbad, New Mexico Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435... |
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First all-underground test Underground nuclear testing Underground nuclear testing refers to test detonations of nuclear weapons that are performed underground. When the device being tested is buried at sufficient depth, the explosion may be contained, with no release of radioactive materials to the atmosphere.... series. Included Operation Plowshare Operation Plowshare Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes... shot "Gnome" in Carlsbad, New Mexico Carlsbad, New Mexico Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435... , which was detonated in an underground salt dome Salt dome A salt dome is a type of structural dome formed when a thick bed of evaporite minerals found at depth intrudes vertically into surrounding rock strata, forming a diapir.... . |
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| 1962–63 | Dominic | 36 | 38.1 Mt | Christmas Island Kiritimati Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands, and part of the Republic of Kiribati.... , Johnston Island, Central Pacific Ocean |
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"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 Operation Fishbowl Operation Fishbowl was a series of high altitude nuclear tests in 1962 that were carried out by the United States as a part of the larger Operation Dominic nuclear test program.-Introduction:... . |
| 1962–63 | Storax Operation Storax Operation Storax was a series of 48 American nuclear tests which took place in 1962 and 1963, including the Sedan blast, which was part of the Plowshare program.The individual blasts were: NameDateSize SEDAN July 6 104 kilotons... |
48 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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Included the "Sedan Sedan (nuclear test) Storax Sedan was a shallow underground nuclear test conducted in Area 10 of Yucca Flat at the Nevada National Security Site on 6 July 1962 as part of Operation Plowshare, a program to investigate the use of nuclear weapons for mining, cratering, and other civilian purposes... " test, a cratering experiment as part of Operation Plowshare Operation Plowshare Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes... . |
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| 1962 | Sunbeam Operation Sunbeam Operation Sunbeam was a series of four nuclear tests conducted at the United States of America's Nevada Test Site in 1962. Operation Sunbeam tested a number of small, "tactical" nuclear warheads... |
4 | 2.19 kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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Test of small tactical warheads, including the man-portable "Davy Crockett Davy Crockett (nuclear device) The M-28 or M-29 Davy Crockett Weapon System was a tactical nuclear recoilless gun for firing the M388 nuclear projectile that was deployed by the United States during the Cold War... ". Last atmospheric test series. |
| 1963 | Roller Coaster Operation Roller Coaster Operation Roller Coaster was a series of 4 nuclear tests conducted at the Nellis Air Force Range in 1963. The tests examined the dispersal of plutonium in storage and transportation accidents and were not expected to produce any nuclear explosive yield... |
4 | 0 | Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
Storage-transportation safety experiment, measured plutonium dispersal risk. |
After the signing of the Partial Test Ban Treaty
Partial Test Ban Treaty
The treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water, often abbreviated as the Partial Test Ban Treaty , Limited Test Ban Treaty , or Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is a treaty prohibiting all test detonations of nuclear weapons...
in 1963, all U.S. nuclear testing became underground testing
Underground nuclear testing
Underground nuclear testing refers to test detonations of nuclear weapons that are performed underground. When the device being tested is buried at sufficient depth, the explosion may be contained, with no release of radioactive materials to the atmosphere....
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1964–1992
| Year | Series | No. shots | Total yields | Location(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | Niblick Operation Niblick Operation Niblick was a series of 41 underground nuclear explosions conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1963 and 1964. It followed the Dominic I & II and Nougat series, and preceded Whetstone.NameDateSize PEKAN August 12 < 20 kilotons... |
41 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1964–65 | Whetstone Operation Whetstone Operation Whetstone was a series of 48 American nuclear tests conducted in 1964 and 1965. These followed the Niblick series and were in turn followed by Flintlock. All but one of these blasts were conducted beneath the Nevada Test Site... |
48 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County... |
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| 1965–66 | Flintlock Operation Flintlock (nuclear test) Operation Flintlock was a series of 48 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site and Amchitka in 1965 and 1966. These tests followed the Whetstone series and preceded Latchkey. The individual blasts were:... |
48 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Amchitka, Alaska Amchitka Amchitka is a volcanic, tectonically unstable island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. It is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The island is about long, and from wide... |
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| 1966–67 | Latchkey Operation Latchkey Operation Latchkey was a series of 38 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1966 and 1967 at the Nevada Test Site .These tests followed the Flintlock series and were in turn followed by Crosstie... |
38 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County... |
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| 1967–68 | Crosstie Operation Crosstie Operation Crosstie was a series of 48 nuclear tests mostly conducted in Nevada during 1967 and 1968. These tests followed the Latchkey series and preceded Bowline.... |
48 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Farmington, New Mexico Farmington, New Mexico Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S... |
Included "Gasbuggy" Plowshare Operation Plowshare Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes... shot near Farmington, New Mexico Farmington, New Mexico Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S... . |
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| 1968–69 | Bowline Operation Bowline Operation Bowline was a series of 48 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1968 and 1969 at the Nevada Test Site. These blasts followed Crosstie and preceded Mandrel.-Individual Tests:... |
48 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1969 | Mandrel Operation Mandrel Operation Mandrel was a series of 53 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1969 and 1970. This test series included a 1.2 megaton "calibration shot" code-named Milrow, which was detonated underground at Amchitka Island, Alaska, and the 40 kiloton gas stimulation experiment code-named Rulison,... |
53 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... ; Grand Valley, Colorado Grand Valley (Colorado) The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, located along the Colorado River in Mesa County in western Colorado and Grand County, Utah in the United States. The valley contains the city of Grand Junction, as well as other smaller communities... ; Amchitka, Alaska Amchitka Amchitka is a volcanic, tectonically unstable island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. It is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The island is about long, and from wide... |
Included "Rulison Rulison Project Rulison, named after the rural community of Rulison, Colorado, was a 40-kiloton nuclear test project in the United States on September 10, 1969, about 8 miles SE of the town of Grand Valley, Colorado near western Colorado's Grand Valley in Garfield County. The location of "Surface Ground... " Plowshare Operation Plowshare Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes... shot near Grand Valley, Colorado Grand Valley (Colorado) The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, located along the Colorado River in Mesa County in western Colorado and Grand County, Utah in the United States. The valley contains the city of Grand Junction, as well as other smaller communities... , and 1.2 Mt shot "Milrow" in Alaska. |
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| 1970 | Emery Operation Emery Operation Emery was a series of twelve nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site. These explosions occurred in 1970 and 1971, after the Mandrel series and before Grommet.... |
16 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1971–72 | Grommet Operation Grommet Operation Grommet was a series of 34 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1971 and 1972 including one in Alaska in 1971. These tests followed the Emery series and preceded Toggle.... |
34 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Amchitka, Alaska Amchitka Amchitka is a volcanic, tectonically unstable island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. It is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The island is about long, and from wide... |
Included largest US underground detonation Underground nuclear testing Underground nuclear testing refers to test detonations of nuclear weapons that are performed underground. When the device being tested is buried at sufficient depth, the explosion may be contained, with no release of radioactive materials to the atmosphere.... , the >5 mt shot "Cannikin" (for the Spartan Missile warhead) in Alaska. |
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| 1972–73 | Toggle Operation Toggle Operation Toggle was a series of 28 nuclear tests conducted in 1972 and 1973. All but Rio Blanco took place at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Grommet series and preceded Arbor. The individual blasts were:... |
28 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... , Rifle, Colorado Rifle, Colorado The City of Rifle is a Home Rule Municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 6,769 at the 2000 census. Rifle is a regional center of the cattle ranching industry located along Interstate 70 and the Colorado River just east of the Roan Cliffs, which dominate the... |
Included Plowshare "Rio Blanco" test for gas stimulation | |
| 1973–74 | Arbor Operation Arbor Operation Arbor was a series of 19 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1973 and 1974. These tests followed the Toggle series and preceded Operation Bedrock.-Individual Tests:... |
19 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1974–75 | Bedrock Operation Bedrock Operation Bedrock was a series of 27 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1974 and 1975. These tests followed the Arbor series and preceded Anvil.-List of individual tests:... |
27 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1975–76 | Anvil Operation Anvil (Nuclear test) Operation Anvil was a series of 21 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1975 and 1976. These tests followed the Bedrock series and preceded Fulcrum.-Individual Tests:... |
21 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1976–77 | Fulcrum Operation Fulcrum Operation Fulcrum was a series of 21 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1976 and 1977. These tests followed the Anvil series and preceded Cresset... |
21 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
All "weapons related" tests. | |
| 1977–78 | Cresset Operation Cresset Operation Cresset was a series of 23 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1977 and 1978. These tests followed the Fulcrum series and preceded Quicksilver... |
23 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1978–79 | Quicksilver Operation Quicksilver (1978) Operation Quicksilver was a nuclear test series of eighteen blasts conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1978 and 1979. This preceded Tinderbox, and followed Cresset. The individual tests were:... |
18 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1979–80 | Tinderbox Operation Tinderbox Operation Tinderbox was a series of fifteen nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1979 and 1980. These tests followed the Quicksilver series and preceded Guardian. The individual blasts were:... |
15 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1980–81 | Guardian Operation Guardian A series of sixteen nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site. This test series followed Tinderbox and preceded Praetorian. The individual blasts were:... |
16 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1981–82 | Praetorian Operation Praetorian Operation Praetorian was a series of 22 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1981 and 1982. These tests followed the Guardian series and preceded Phalanx... |
22 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1982–83 | Phalanx Operation Phalanx Operation Phalanx was a series of 19 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1982 and 1983. These tests followed the Praetorian series and preceded Fusileer... |
19 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1983–84 | Fusileer Operation Fusileer Operation Fusileer was a series of 17 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1983 and 1984. These tests followed the Phalanx series and preceded Grenadier... |
17 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1984–85 | Grenadier Operation Grenadier Operation Grenadier was a series of 17 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1984 and 1985. These tests followed the Fusileer series and preceded Charioteer... |
17 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1985–86 | Charioteer Operation Charioteer Operation Charioteer was a series of 18 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1985 and 1986. These tests followed the Grenadier series and preceded Operation Musketeer .-List of individual tests:... |
18 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
Mighty Oak test using the Mk-21 RV warhead. was conducted on April 10, 1986. Containment failed and later 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: Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Dr. Bonnie Eberhardt, journalist Paul Van Dam. | |
| 1986–87 | Musketeer Operation Musketeer (Nuclear test) Operation Musketeer was a series of 15 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1986 and 1987. These tests followed the Charioteer series and preceded Touchstone... |
15 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1987–88 | Touchstone Operation Touchstone Operation Touchstone was a series of 14 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1987 and 1988. These tests followed the Musketeer series and preceded Cornerstone... |
14 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1988–89 | Cornerstone Operation Cornerstone Operation Cornerstone was a series of 12 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1988 and 1989. These tests followed the Touchstone series and preceded Aqueduct... |
12 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1989–90 | Aqueduct Operation Aqueduct Operation Aqueduct was a series of 11 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1989 and 1990. These tests followed the Cornerstone series and preceded Sculpin.-Individual Tests:... |
11 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1990–91 | Sculpin Operation Sculpin Operation Sculpin was a series of 8 nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1990 and 1991. These tests followed the Aqueduct series and preceded Julin... |
8 | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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| 1991–92 | Julin Operation Julin Operation Julin was a series of 8 underground nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1991 and 1992. This test series followed the Sculpin series and was the last nuclear test series conducted by the U.S. The individual blasts were:-Last test:... |
8 | <460kt | Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas... |
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
Operation Plowshare
Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes...
, 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).