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Nuclear testing

A nuclear test explosion is an experiment using a nuclear weapon to observe its actual (not just theoretical) destructive power. It may also be a demonstration of the possessing nation's strength. (See North Korea nuclear weapons program)

The United States successfully detonated the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed "Mike" ["m" for megaton], at Eniwetok island in the Bikini atoll on November 1, 1952.

The Soviet Union detonated a 50 megaton yield hydrogen bomb over Novaya Zemlya on October 30, 1961 (this is still the largest nuclear device to ever be detonated). The U.S estimated the yield to be 57 megatons, which was the figure circulated by the Soviet Union after the test.

There have been around 2,000 nuclear test explosions:

Peter Kuran's documentary film Trinity and Beyond (1996) is perhaps the first documentary on the history of nuclear testing, and incorporates a good deal of rare footage of US, Soviet and Chinese tests as well as interviews with many key figures in the US test program.

Table of contents
1 Known test series designations
2 See Also
3 External Links

Known test series designations

US

The
United States has conducted numerous nuclear tests throughout the nation including the Nevada Test Site, the Pacific Test Site, Alaska and even Farmington, New Mexico.

USSR

UK

France

India

See Also

External Links