Project 56 (nuclear test)
Encyclopedia
Project 56 was a series of one-point safety tests conducted in Area 11 of the Nevada Test Site between 1955 and 1956.
Valley. The area continues to be used on an intermittent basis for realistic drills in radiological monitoring and sampling operations.
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 high explosive components burned or detonated.Aftermath
Over 895 acres (3.6 km²) were contaminated with plutonium dust and fragments. Area 11 became subsequently known as PlutoniumPlutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
Valley. The area continues to be used on an intermittent basis for realistic drills in radiological monitoring and sampling operations.
Tests
| Name | Date | Yield | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project 56 No. 1 | Zero | ||
| Project 56 No. 2 | Zero | Plutonium dispersal | |
| Project 56 No. 3 | No yield | Plutonium dispersal | |
| Project 56 No. 4 | Very slight | Plutonium dispersal |