Operation Plumbbob, Nuclear test series in Nevada Desert, United States.
Operation Plumbbob was a series of twenty-nine atomic tests conducted between May and October 1957 at the Nevada Test Site. The tests included different methods such as tower detonations, balloon launches, and underground explosions in a military restricted area in the desert.
The series began in May 1957 as part of American efforts to explore new weapons technologies during the Cold War. The Rainier test in September marked the first fully contained underground atomic test in the United States and showed a new path for future trials.
This series shaped a generation of soldiers and nearby residents who came into direct contact with early atomic weapons development. Civilians from nearby towns often watched the detonations from the roadside while the government presented the tests as progress.
The test site lies within a restricted military area that remains closed to the public. Some historical locations can occasionally be visited through organized tours that must be booked in advance.
During the Pascal-B test, the heavy steel cap covering the shaft disappeared after the explosion and was likely hurled into space. Scientists later estimated the speed at more than 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second), exceeding escape velocity many times over.
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