The United States's Aqueduct nuclear test series[1] was a group of 10 nuclear tests conducted in 1989–1990. These tests[note 1] followed the Operation Cornerstone series and preceded the Operation Sculpin series.
Aqueduct | |
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Information | |
Country | United States |
Test site | NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa; NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa; NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat |
Period | 1989–1990 |
Number of tests | 10 |
Test type | underground shaft, tunnel |
Max. yield | 150 kilotonnes of TNT (630 TJ) |
Test series chronology | |
Name [note 2] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone[note 3][2] | Location[note 4] | Elevation + height [note 5] | Delivery [note 6] Purpose [note 7] |
Device[note 8] | Yield[note 9] | Fallout[note 10] | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hornitos | October 31, 1989 15:30:00.085 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20bc 37°15′47″N 116°29′30″W / 37.26305°N 116.49161°W | 1,846 m (6,056 ft)–562.94 m (1,846.9 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
150 kt | [1][3][4] | |||
Muleshoe | November 15, 1989 20:20:00.119 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7bk 37°06′23″N 116°00′51″W / 37.10647°N 116.01425°W | 1,311 m (4,301 ft)–244.45 m (802.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | |||
Whiteface - 1 | December 20, 1989 22:00:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3lp 37°01′33″N 116°01′55″W / 37.02584°N 116.03197°W | 1,216 m (3,990 ft)–196.9 m (646 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
Whiteface - 2 | December 20, 1989 22:00:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3lp 37°01′33″N 116°01′55″W / 37.02584°N 116.03197°W | 1,216 m (3,990 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
Metropolis | March 10, 1990 15:00:00.083 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2gh 37°06′45″N 116°03′22″W / 37.11246°N 116.05605°W | 1,246 m (4,088 ft)–469.4 m (1,540 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
44 kt | Venting detected, 6 Ci (220 GBq) | [1][3][4][5][6] | ||
Bowie | April 6, 1990 17:00:00.047 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3mk 37°04′04″N 115°59′34″W / 37.06765°N 115.99288°W | 1,271 m (4,170 ft)–213.4 m (700 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
100 t | [1][3][4][7] | |||
Bullion | June 13, 1990 16:00:00.079 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20bd 37°15′42″N 116°25′16″W / 37.26155°N 116.42101°W | 1,950 m (6,400 ft)–673.9 m (2,211 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
150 kt | [1][3][4] | |||
Justin | June 21, 1990 18:15:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U6e 36°59′34″N 116°00′19″W / 36.99279°N 116.00536°W | 1,174 m (3,852 ft)–350.5 m (1,150 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
2 kt | [1][3][4] | |||
Mineral Quarry - 2 (with Randsburg) | July 25, 1990 15:00:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U12n.22 37°12′25″N 116°12′55″W / 37.20682°N 116.21514°W | 2,216 m (7,270 ft)–389.5 m (1,278 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
10 kt | Venting detected, 0.5 Ci (19 GBq) | [1][3][4][6] | Simultaneous, same drifts. | |
Randsburg - 1 (with Mineral Quarry) | July 25, 1990 15:00:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U12n.22a 37°12′25″N 116°12′55″W / 37.20682°N 116.21514°W | 2,216 m (7,270 ft) + | tunnel, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Simultaneous, same drifts. | ||
Sundown - 1 | September 20, 1990 16:15:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U1d 37°02′18″N 116°03′27″W / 37.0382°N 116.05756°W | 1,206 m (3,957 ft)–270.4 m (887 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Simultaneous, same drifts. | ||
Sundown - 2 | September 20, 1990 16:15:00.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U1d 37°02′18″N 116°03′27″W / 37.0382°N 116.05756°W | 1,206 m (3,957 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Simultaneous, same drifts. | ||
Ledoux | September 27, 1990 18:02:46.0 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U1a.01 37°00′25″N 116°03′32″W / 37.00695°N 116.05899°W | 1,191 m (3,907 ft)–291 m (955 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | [1][3][4] | Experimentally pumping a laser from a nuclear device. |