Atomic Weapons Testing

Operation Castle was a six-detonation test series held at the Atomic Energy Commission's (AEC) Pacific Proving Ground in the Spring of 1954. This test series, principally conducted at the Enewetak and Bikini Atolls in the northwestern Marshall Islands, provided proof tests of large-yield thermonuclear, or hydrogen, devices.

In 1951, the Army, working with the Atomic Energy Commission, carried out the Desert Rock Exercises, an experiment to "dispel much of the fear and uncertainty surrounding atomic radiation and the effects of gamma and x-rays."

16 spectacular airdrop nuclear bursts that were detonated near Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean.

Nuclear Test program Operation Greenhouse Including Dog, Easy, George and Item Nuclear Test Blasts

Military Effect Studies: Basic Effects, High Altitude Studies, Underwater Tests and sub-Kiloton Effects

"The island of Elugelab is missing!" Operation Ivy - The first Hydrogen Bomb test

Nuclear Test program Operations Ranger & Buster/Jangle Including Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Sugar and more Nuclear Test Blasts

Operation Teapot consisted of 14 nuclear tests detonated from February 18 to May 15, 1955 and involved 11,000 personnel.

Nuclear Test program Operation Tumbler-Snapper air dropped Nuclear Test Blasts

Operation Upshot/Knothole Fission and Fusion Atomic Weapon Testing

Nuclear Test Program Project Crossroads Including Able and Baker Nuclear Test Blasts

The SL-1, or Stationary Low-Power Reactor Number One, was a United States Army experimental nuclear power reactor which underwent a steam explosion and meltdown in January 1961, killing its three operators. The direct cause was the improper withdrawal of the only movable control rod. The event is the only fatal reactor accident in the United States.

The Big Picture documentary The Atom Soldier is a fascinating look at an atomic attack preparedness drill performed by the U.S. military to ready their troops for potential atomic battlefields. This fascinating test took place at Frenchman's Flat, Nevada in January 1955 at the Army Camp Desert Rock. This test involved thousands of ground troops with the focus being methods to coordinate the men on the ground in the event of a nearby atomic explosion. In addition to being a fascinating glimpse of a very large scale military training exercise, it is also a good educational film about the effects of nuclear explosions on nearby populations.

US Atomic Testing & Operations: By Ground, Sea & Air explores the era of Atomic Weapons research and testing. You will learn about this era and the tests performed in this collection of three films.They are: