1966–70 French nuclear tests

1966–1970
Information
Country France
Test site Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll; Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP)
Period 1966–1970
Number of tests 22
Test type air drop, balloon, barge, dry surface
Max. yield 2.6 megatonnes of TNT (11 PJ)
Test series chronology

The France's 1966–1970 nuclear test series[1] was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted in 1966–1970. These tests followed the In Ekker series, French nuclear tests series and preceded the 1971–74 French nuclear tests series.

France's 1966–1970 series tests and detonations
Name [note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone [note 2][2] Location [note 3] Elevation + height [note 4] Delivery, [note 5]
Purpose [note 6]		 Device [note 7] Yield [note 8] Fallout [note 9] References Notes
Aldébaran 2 July 1966 15:34:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′S 139°00′W / 21.87°S 139°W / -21.87; -139 (Aldébaran) −35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft) barge,
weapons development		 AN-52 28 kt [1][3][4][5] An experimental tactical weapon. Fired on the third try.
Tamouré 19 July 1966 15:05:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): 85 km E 21°50′04″S 137°57′17″W / 21.8345°S 137.95474°W / -21.8345; -137.95474 (Tamouré) 5 m (16 ft) + 1,000 m (3,300 ft) air drop,
weapons development		 AN-11 50 kt [1][3][4][5][6] Dropped by a Mirage IV jet, France's first dropped tests.
Ganymède 21 July 1966 12:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll: Colette ~ 21°46′53″S 138°54′17″W / 21.78128°S 138.90475°W / -21.78128; -138.90475 (Ganymède) 5 m (16 ft) + 12 m (39 ft) dry surface,
safety experiment		 AN-22 no yield [3][4][5]
Bételguese 11 September 1966 17:30:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Bételguese) 5 m (16 ft) + 470 m (1,540 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 MR-31 110 kt [1][3][4][5] Reportedly, because of de Gaulle's impatience (he was in anntedance), it was fired before atmosperic conditions were correct, causing fallout to the west on American Samoa, Fiji, and Cook Islands.
Rigel 24 September 1966 17:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′S 138°44′W / 22.23°S 138.73°W / -22.23; -138.73 (Rigel) −35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft) barge,
weapons development		 125 kt [1][3][4][5] Boosted fission device.
Sirus 4 October 1966 21:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′S 139°00′W / 21.87°S 139°W / -21.87; -139 (Sirus) −35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft) barge,
weapons development		 205 kt [1][3][4][5]
Altair 5 June 1967 19:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′20″S 138°53′42″W / 21.789°S 138.895°W / -21.789; -138.895 (Altair) 5 m (16 ft) + 295 m (968 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 15 kt [1][3][4][5]
Antarès 27 June 1967 18:30:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°51′54″S 139°00′00″W / 21.865°S 139°W / -21.865; -139 (Antarès) 5 m (16 ft) + 340 m (1,120 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 120 kt [1][3][4][5]
Arcturus 2 July 1967 17:30:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′42″S 138°53′31″W / 21.795°S 138.892°W / -21.795; -138.892 (Arcturus) −35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft) barge,
weapons development		 22 kt [1][3][4][5] Intended for a balloon, instead detonated at ground level, resulting in severe downwind fallout.
Capella 7 July 1968 22:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Capella) 5 m (16 ft) + 463 m (1,519 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 115 kt [1][3][4][5]
Castor 15 July 1968 19:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Castor) 5 m (16 ft) + 650 m (2,130 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 MR-41 450 kt [1][3][4][5]
Pollux 3 August 1968 21:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pollux) 5 m (16 ft) + 490 m (1,610 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 MR-41 150 kt [1][3][4][5]
Canopus 24 August 1968 18:30:00.5 TAHT (-10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°13′41″S 138°38′38″W / 22.228°S 138.644°W / -22.228; -138.644 (Canopus) 5 m (16 ft) + 520 m (1,710 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 2.6 Mt [1][3][4][5] First French thermonuclear detonation. It contaminated Fangataufa so highly that it lay unused for the next six years.
Procyon 8 September 1968 19:00:01 TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°49′16″S 138°58′30″W / 21.821°S 138.975°W / -21.821; -138.975 (Procyon) 5 m (16 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 1.3 Mt [1][3][4][5]
Andromède 15 May 1970 18:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Andromède) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 13 kt [1][3][4][5]
Cassiopée 22 May 1970 18:30:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Cassiopée) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 TN-60 224 kt [1][3][4][5]
Dragon 30 May 1970 17:59:59.9 TAHT (-10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°18′32″S 138°36′22″W / 22.309°S 138.606°W / -22.309; -138.606 (Dragon) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 945 kt [1][3][4][5]
Eridan 24 June 1970 18:30:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Eridan) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 12 kt [1][3][4][5]
Licorne 3 July 1970 18:30:00.3 TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°48′29″S 138°55′02″W / 21.80802°S 138.91727°W / -21.80802; -138.91727 (Licorne) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 TN-60 914 kt [1][3][4][5] Six hours after the test, French Defense Minister Michel Debré swam in the lagoon as a PR ploy.
Pégase 27 July 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pégase) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 50 t [1][3][4][5]
Orion 2 August 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°18′S 138°36′W / 22.3°S 138.6°W / -22.3; -138.6 (Orion) 5 m (16 ft) + 400 m (1,300 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 72 kt [1][3][4][5]
Toucan 6 August 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (-10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Toucan) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development		 594 kt [1][3][4][5]
  1. ↑ The United States, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
  2. ↑ To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. All historical timezone data are derived from here:
  3. ↑ Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
  4. ↑ Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
  5. ↑ Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
  6. ↑ Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  7. ↑ Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.
  8. ↑ Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
  9. ↑ Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000). CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) (Technical report). SMDC Monitoring Research.
  2. ↑ "Timezone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 La Dimension Radiologique des Essais Nucleaires Francais en Polynesie (PDF) (Technical report). Ministry of Defense. March 1, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "The Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, Main Report" (PDF). Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency. 1998. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Norris, Robert S.; Burrows, Andrew S.; Fieldhouse, Richard W. (1994). Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol. 5: British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
  6. ↑ Andryushin, L. A.; Voloshin, N. P.; Ilkaev, R. I.; Matushchenko, A. M.; Ryabev, L. D.; Strukov, V. G.; Chernyshev, A. K.; Yudin, Yu. A. (1999). Catalog of Worldwide Nuclear Testing (Technical report). Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
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