OPERATION HARDTACK. PROJECT 8.3. GROWTH OF FIREBALL RADII AT VERY HIGH ALTITUDES

Abstract

The purpose of this report was to determine, by photographic means, the modes by which energy is propagated and dissipated from nuclear explosions at very high altitudes. A corollary objective was to document all visible aspects of the detonations for later analysis of any unforeseen phenomena. The project analyzed films from Shots Yucca, Teak, and Orange. Film records analyzed included 70-mm streak records for very early fireball growth, 35-mm high-speed records for diameter-time relationships up to 2,000 msec, and slow- speed 35- and 70-mm records for late diameter-time data. The films were taken from cameras aboard two RB-36 aircraft. Shot Yucca had an approximate initial diameter of 40 meters at approximately 0.13 msec and could be measured to a diameter of about 640 meters at 1.5 seconds. Shot Orange had an initial observed diameter of approximately 1.7 km and reached a diameter of 20 km at 30. 5 seconds.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 05, 1961
Accession Number
AD0360632

Entities

People

  • Lewis Fussell Jr.
  • Robert C. Schneiderhan

Organizations

  • EG&G

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Cameras
  • Ground Stations
  • Guided Missiles
  • High Altitude
  • Johnston Island
  • Magnification
  • Military Research
  • Munitions
  • Navy
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Radiation
  • Streak Cameras
  • Warfare
  • Weapons

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.