Operation Project 56 was a series of 4 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1955–1956 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the '' Operation Wigwam'' series and preceded the '' Operation Redwing'' series.

Introduction

These experiments were safety tests, the purpose of which were to determine whether a weapon or warhead damaged in an accident would detonate with a nuclear yield, even if some or all of the high explosive components burned or detonated.National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, ''Plutonium Dispersal Tests at the Nevada Test Site'', April 2010
DOE/NV-1046
The procedure for these tests was to fault the test bomb by removing a detonator wire, or perhaps all but one, for example, possibly enhancing the weapon with extra initiators or an especially enriched core, and then to fire the weapon normally (see Warhead design safety). If there is any nuclear yield in the firing, then the test is deemed a failure from a safety standpoint. A successful test will measure only the chemical explosive in the test bomb exploding, which still, of course, blasts the bomb core and causes the core material to be spread over a wide area if the test is in open air, as all the ''Project 56'' tests were.

Aftermath

Over of Area 11 at the NTS were contaminated with plutonium dust and fragments. The area has become known as ''Plutonium Valley'', and continues to be used on an intermittent basis for realistic drills in radiological monitoring and sampling operations.

References

{{US Nuclear Tests Explosions in 1955 Explosions in 1956 Project 56 1955 in military history 1956 in military history 1955 in Nevada 1956 in Nevada 1955 in the environment 1956 in the environment

Introduction

Aftermath

See also

Further reading

References