The Nevada National Security Site (N2S2[1] or NNSS), known as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010,[2] is a United States Department of Energy (DOE) reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the city of Las Vegas. Formerly known as the Nevada Proving Grounds, the site was established in 1951 for the testing of nuclear devices. It covers approximately 1,360 square miles (3,500 km2) of desert and mountainous terrain. Nuclear weapons testing at the site began with a 1-kiloton-of-TNT (4.2 TJ) bomb dropped on Frenchman Flat on January 27, 1951. Over the subsequent four decades, over 1,000 nuclear explosions were detonated at the site.[3] Many of the iconic images of the nuclear era come from the site.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. population was exposed to a total dose of 4,000,000 Person-Sievert of iodine-131 through the nuclear weapon tests in Nevada – about 500 times the total radiation dose of Chernobyl (7,300 PSv). A study published in 1999 estimated that the expected cases of thyroid cancer due to the Nevada nuclear weapons tests amount to 10,000–75,000. Another report, published in 2006, found that 1,800 radiation-related leukemia deaths could be expected in the U.S. as a result of the Nevada nuclear weapons tests. Despite these alarming findings, no routine thyroid cancer screenings are undertaken in the affected regions.
https://www.nuclear-risks.org/en/hibakusha-worldwide/nevada-test-site.html
Operation Ranger, 1951
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 dropped by B-50D bombers and exploded in the open air over Frenchman Flat (Area 5).
These tests centered on the practicality of developing a second generation of nuclear weapons using smaller amounts of valuable nuclear materials. They were planned under the name Operation Faust.
Able, January 27, 1951
Location: NTS Area 5 ~ 36.82664°N 115.95883°W Delivery purpose: free air drop, weapons development Device: Mk-4, Type D
First test over continental United States since Trinity. Testing compression against critical mass as inspired by the demon core. Often later used for a 1 kt calibrated explosion.
Baker, January 28, 1951
Location: NTS Area 5 ~ 36.82664°N 115.95883°W Delivery purpose: free air drop, weapons development Device: Mk-4, Type D
Fractional critical core, TOM initiator.
Easy, February 1, 1951
NTS Area 5 ~ 36.82664°N 115.95883°W 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 329 m (1,079 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-4, Type D 1 kt [5][6][7][8][9][10] Testing compression against critical mass.
Baker 2 February 2, 1951
NTS Area 5 ~ 36.82664°N 115.95883°W 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 335 m (1,099 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-4, Type D 8 kt [5][6][7][8][9][10] Identical to Baker-1, test of reproducible results. See also Ranger/Easy.
Fox February 6, 1951
NTS Area 5 36.82485°N 115.96708°W 1,010 m (3,310 ft) + 437 m (1,434 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-6 HOW, Type D “Freddy” 22 kt [5][6][7][8][9][10] Proof Test of Mark 6 HOW “Fox” core. “500 ft west and 300 ft south of drop target used by other Ranger blasts, to avoid damage to the control point.”.
Operation Buster–Jangle
Operation Buster–Jangle was a series of seven (six atmospheric, one cratering) 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 (Operation Buster) and Los Alamos National Laboratories (Operation Jangle). As part of Operation Buster, 6,500 troops were involved in the Operation Desert Rock I, II, and III exercises in conjunction with the tests. The last two tests, Operation Jangle, evaluated the cratering effects of low-yield nuclear devices. This series preceded Operation Tumbler–Snapper and followed Operation Greenhouse.
Able October 22, 1951 14:00:00.0 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 7 37.0838°N 116.0248°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 30 m (98 ft) tower,
weapons development Mk-6 “Petite Plutonium” 0 kg [3][4][5][6] Minimum mass design, fizzle (yield “less than a pound”); yet it yielded a lower bound on viable plutonium mass. October 19 attempt failed due to control wiring problem.
Baker October 28, 1951 15:20:08.9 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 7 37.085°N 116.0209°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 340 m (1,120 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-4 “LT” 3.5 kt I-131 venting detected, 600 kCi (22,000 TBq) [3][4][5][6][7] No uranium tamper.
Charlie October 30, 1951 15:00:29.8 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 7 37.085°N 116.0211°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 350 m (1,150 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-4 “PC” 14 kt I-131 venting detected, 2 MCi (74 PBq) [3][4][5][6][7]
Dog November 1, 1951 15:30:01.6 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 7 37.0847°N 116.0206°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 430 m (1,410 ft) free air drop,
weapons development Mk-4 “NF” 21 kt I-131 venting detected, 3.1 MCi (110 PBq) [3][4][5][6][7] Desert Rock I, no fallout (air burst). Troops trucked into defensive emplacements from 6 mi (9.7 km) observation point, held maneuvers.
Easy November 5, 1951 16:29:58.2 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 7 37.0919°N 116.0253°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 400 m (1,300 ft) free air drop,
weapons development TX-7E 31 kt I-131 venting detected, 4.6 MCi (170 PBq) [3][4][5][6][7] First air drop of nuclear weapon by jet bomber (B-45 Tornado)
Sugar November 19, 1951 16:59:59.7 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 9 37.13151°N 116.03947°W 1,280 m (4,200 ft) + 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) dry surface,
weapon effect Mk-6 “Johnny” 1.2 kt I-131 venting detected, 170 kCi (6,300 TBq) [3][4][5][6][7][8] “Surface” shot, only true surface shot in NTS history. Desert Rock II; maneuvers conducted at a distance due to dirtiness.
Uncle November 29, 1951 19:59:59.7 PST (−8 hrs) NTS Area 10 37.1697°N 116.0434°W 1,283 m (4,209 ft) – 5 m (16 ft) cratering,
weapon effect Mk-6 “Frankie” 1.2 kt I-131 venting detected, 170 kCi (6,300 TBq) [3][4][5][6][7] Cratering shot, meant to simulate 23 kt ground penetrating weapon. Desert Rock III, observed at 5 mi (8.0 km), kept distance in maneuvers. 5000 R/Hr near GZ one hour after shot.
Operation Upshot–Knothole
Operation Upshot–Knothole was a series of eleven nuclear test shots conducted in 1953 at the Nevada Test Site. It followed Operation Ivy and preceded Operation Castle.
Over 21,000 soldiers took part in the ground exercise Desert Rock V in conjunction with the Grable shot.[1] Grable was a 280mm Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile (AFAP) shell fired from the “Atomic Cannon” and was viewed by a number of high-ranking military officials.