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1962 Soviet nuclear tests

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1962
Nuclear blast animation
Information
CountrySoviet Union
Test siteDegelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea); NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia
Period1962
Number of tests78
Test typeair drop, atmospheric, cruise missile, dry surface, high alt rocket (30–80 km), tower, tunnel
Max. yield24.2 megatonnes of TNT (101 PJ)
Test series chronology

The Soviet Union's 1962 nuclear test series[1] was a group of 78 nuclear tests conducted in 1962. These tests followed the Soviet Project K nuclear tests series and preceded the 1964 Soviet nuclear tests series.

Soviet Union's 1962 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
143 Argon 1 (Joe 120) 2 February 1962 08:00:00.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: A-1 49°46′55″N 77°59′46″E / 49.78198°N 77.99618°E / 49.78198; 77.99618 (143 Argon 1 (Joe 120)) 700 m (2,300 ft) + tunnel,
weapon effect
15 kt [1][3][4][5][6][7] First Soviet underground test.
144 1 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (144) N/A + 430 m (1,410 ft) atmospheric,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
145 3 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (145) N/A + 180 m (590 ft) atmospheric,
weapons development
1.6 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
146 4 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (146) N/A + 390 m (1,280 ft) atmospheric,
weapons development
3.8 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
147 5 August 1962 09:08:45.8 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N 52°30′E / 74.2°N 52.5°E / 74.2; 52.5 (147) 0 + 3,600 m (11,800 ft) air drop,
weapons development
21.1 Mt [1][6][10][11]
148 7 August 1962 03:00:?? ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°27′22″N 77°46′23″E / 50.456°N 77.773°E / 50.456; 77.773 (148) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
9.9 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
149 10 August 1962 09:00:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (149) 0 + 1,560 m (5,120 ft) air drop,
weapons development
400 kt [1][5][6][11]
150 18 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (150) 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft) air drop,
weapons development
7.4 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
151 18 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (151) N/A + 310 m (1,020 ft) atmospheric,
weapons development
5.8 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
152 20 August 1962 09:02:14.1 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°18′N 51°30′E / 74.3°N 51.5°E / 74.3; 51.5 (152) 0 + 2,500 m (8,200 ft) air drop,
weapons development
2.8 Mt [1][10][11][12] Khalturin names this an ICBM test from Chita.
153 21 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (153) 280 m (920 ft) + 590 m (1,940 ft) air drop,
weapons development
23 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
156 22 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (156) 280 m (920 ft) + 740 m (2,430 ft) air drop,
weapons development
3 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
155 Shkval (Flurry) 22 August 1962 09:00:00 MSK (3 hrs) Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 73°43′N 45°12′E / 73.71°N 45.2°E / 73.71; 45.2 (Launch_155 Shkval (Flurry)), elv: 0 + 2,000 m (0 + 6,562 ft);
Detonation over Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) ~ 73°45′N 52°18′E / 73.75°N 52.3°E / 73.75; 52.3 (155 Shkval (Flurry))
0 + 60 m (200 ft) cruise missile,
weapons development
6 kt [1][6][11][12][13] Air launched (from TU-16K) cruise missile test. No other information on launch; trajectory is a guess. Location known only as "Kara Sea"; lat/lon a guess; official lat/lon is in NZ land corral.
154 22 August 1962 09:00:04.2 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70°59′30″N 55°31′43″E / 70.9917°N 55.52855°E / 70.9917; 55.52855 (154) 0 + 1,700 m (5,600 ft) air drop,
weapons development
1.6 Mt [1][10][11][12][14]
157 23 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (157) 280 m (920 ft) + 680 m (2,230 ft) air drop,
weapons development
2.5 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
159 25 August 1962 05:40:?? ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (159) 280 m (920 ft) + 715 m (2,346 ft) air drop,
weapons development
1 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
158 25 August 1962 09:??:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (158) 0 + 2,980 m (9,780 ft) air drop, 10 Mt [1][5][6][11][14]
161 27 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (161) 280 m (920 ft) + 245 m (804 ft) air drop,
weapons development
11 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
160 27 August 1962 09:00:50.9 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°42′N 50°18′E / 74.7°N 50.3°E / 74.7; 50.3 (160) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft) air drop,
weapons development
4.2 Mt [1][10][11][14]
162 31 August 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (162) 280 m (920 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft) air drop,
fundamental science
2.7 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
163 2 September 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (163) 0 + 1,300 m (4,300 ft) air drop,
weapons development
80 kt [1][11]
unnumbered #4 6 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (unnumbered #4) 280 m (920 ft) + atmospheric, less than 0.001 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
164 Tyulpan (Tulip) 8 September 1962 10:17:57.7 MSK (3 hrs) Launch from Zabaykalsky (then Chita), Russia 51°54′48″N 113°07′50″E / 51.91335°N 113.13053°E / 51.91335; 113.13053 (Launch_164 Tyulpan (Tulip)), elv: 685 + 0 m (2,247 + 0 ft);
Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°42′N 53°48′E / 73.7°N 53.8°E / 73.7; 53.8 (164 Tyulpan (Tulip))
N/A + 1,725 m (5,659 ft) high alt rocket (30–80 km),
weapons development
1.9 Mt [1][10][11][13] Launched on an R-14 rocket from "Yasnaya railroad station" south of Chita toward Mityushikha Bay, NZ, 3600 km across Siberia. Probable ABM test.
165 15 September 1962 08:02:13.9 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°24′N 51°30′E / 74.4°N 51.5°E / 74.4; 51.5 (165) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft) air drop,
weapons development
3.1 Mt [1][10][11]
166 16 September 1962 10:59:10.5 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N 51°36′E / 74.2°N 51.6°E / 74.2; 51.6 (166) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft) air drop,
weapons development
3.3 Mt [1][10][11]
unnumbered #5 18 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (unnumbered #5) 280 m (920 ft) + atmospheric, 10 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
167 18 September 1962 08:29:02.7 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°12′N 54°42′E / 73.2°N 54.7°E / 73.2; 54.7 (167) 0 + 2,000 m (6,600 ft) air drop,
weapons development
1.4 Mt [1][10][11]
168 19 September 1962 11:00:56.4 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°48′N 53°48′E / 73.8°N 53.8°E / 73.8; 53.8 (168) 0 + 3,280 m (10,760 ft) air drop,
weapons development
10 Mt [1][5][11][15][16]
169 21 September 1962 08:00:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (169) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft) air drop,
weapons development
2.4 Mt [1][6][11]
170 22 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°24′58″N 77°44′24″E / 50.416°N 77.74°E / 50.416; 77.74 (170) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
210 t [1][6][7][8][9]
171 24 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (171) 280 m (920 ft) + 630 m (2,070 ft) air drop,
weapons development
1.2 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
172 25 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°27′22″N 77°46′23″E / 50.456°N 77.773°E / 50.456; 77.773 (172) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
7 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
173 25 September 1962 13:02:31.7 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°42′N 55°00′E / 73.7°N 55°E / 73.7; 55 (173) 0 + 4,090 m (13,420 ft) air drop,
weapons development
19.1 Mt [1][5][6][11]
174 27 September 1962 08:03:16.4 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°18′N 52°24′E / 74.3°N 52.4°E / 74.3; 52.4 (174) 0 + 3,900 m (12,800 ft) air drop,
weapons development
20 Mt [1][6][10][11]
175 28 September 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (175) 280 m (920 ft) + 695 m (2,280 ft) air drop,
fundamental science
1.3 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
176 7 October 1962 16:32:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (176) 0 + 1,440 m (4,720 ft) air drop,
weapons development
320 kt [1][6][11][17]
177 9 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (177) 280 m (920 ft) + 645 m (2,116 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
178 9 October 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (178) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft) air drop,
weapons development
15 kt [1][11]
179 10 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (179) 280 m (920 ft) + 665 m (2,182 ft) air drop,
weapons development
9.2 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
180 13 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (180) 280 m (920 ft) + 720 m (2,360 ft) air drop,
weapons development
4.9 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
181 14 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (181) 280 m (920 ft) + 725 m (2,379 ft) air drop,
weapons development
10 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
182 20 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (182) 280 m (920 ft) + 635 m (2,083 ft) air drop,
weapons development
6.7 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
183 22 October 1962 09:06:10.1 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°24′N 54°54′E / 73.4°N 54.9°E / 73.4; 54.9 (183) 0 + 3,230 m (10,600 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8.2 Mt [1][10][11][17]
185 27 October 1962 07:35:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (185) 0 + 1,550 m (5,090 ft) air drop,
weapons development
260 kt [1][5][11][17]
186 28 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (186) 280 m (920 ft) + 670 m (2,200 ft) air drop,
weapons development
7.8 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
188 28 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (188) 280 m (920 ft) + 645 m (2,116 ft) air drop,
weapons development
7.8 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
189 29 October 1962 07:35:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (189) 0 + 1,550 m (5,090 ft) air drop,
weapons development
360 kt [1][6][11][17]
190 30 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (190) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
1.2 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
191 30 October 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (191) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) air drop,
weapons development
280 kt [1][11]
192 31 October 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (192) 280 m (920 ft) + 690 m (2,260 ft) air drop,
weapons development
10 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
194 1 November 1962 06:30:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (194) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) air drop,
weapons development
240 kt [1][5][6][11][17]
193 1 November 1962 09:20:?? ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (193) 280 m (920 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft) air drop,
weapons development
3 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
197 3 November 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (197) 0 + 4,000 m (13,000 ft) air drop,
weapons development
45 kt [1][11]
198 3 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (198) 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft) air drop,
weapons development
4.7 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
196 3 November 1962 08:31:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (196) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) air drop,
weapons development
390 kt [1][6][11][17]
199 4 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (199) 280 m (920 ft) + 600 m (2,000 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8.4 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
200 5 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°26′N 77°50′E / 50.43°N 77.83°E / 50.43; 77.83 (200) 280 m (920 ft) + 15 m (49 ft) tower,
weapon effect
400 t [1][6][7][8][9]
201 11 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°24′58″N 77°44′24″E / 50.416°N 77.74°E / 50.416; 77.74 (201) 280 m (920 ft) + 8 m (26 ft) tower,
weapons development
100 t [1][6][7][8][9]
202 13 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (202) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
1000 kg [1][6][7][8][9]
203 14 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (203) 280 m (920 ft) + 660 m (2,170 ft) air drop,
weapons development
12 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
204 17 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (204) 280 m (920 ft) + 715 m (2,346 ft) air drop,
weapons development
18 kt [1][5][6][7][9]
205 24 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (205) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
1000 kg [1][6][7][8][9]
206 26 November 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (206) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
31 t [1][6][7][8][9]
207 1 December 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N 77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (207) 280 m (920 ft) + 680 m (2,230 ft) air drop,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
209 18 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (209) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) air drop,
fundamental science
69 kt [1][11]
208 18 December 1962 10:45:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (208) 0 + 1,600 m (5,200 ft) air drop,
weapons development
110 kt [1][11][17]
210 20 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (210) 0 + 1,070 m (3,510 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8.3 kt [1][11]
211 22 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (211) 0 + 1,050 m (3,440 ft) air drop,
weapons development
6.3 kt [1][11]
213 23 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (213) 0 + 1,470 m (4,820 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8.3 kt [1][11]
214 23 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (214) 0 + 1,270 m (4,170 ft) air drop,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1][11]
215 23 December 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (215) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
less than 0.001 kt [1][6][7][8][9]
212 23 December 1962 11:15:?? MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (212) 0 + 1,460 m (4,790 ft) air drop,
weapons development
430 kt [1][6][11][17]
216 24 December 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (216) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
7 t [1][6][7][8][9]
217 24 December 1962 ALMT (6 hrs) Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N 77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (217) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
28 t [1][6][7][8][9]
218 24 December 1962 10:44:21.9 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N 52°18′E / 74.2°N 52.3°E / 74.2; 52.3 (218) 0 + 1,320 m (4,330 ft) air drop,
weapons development
1.1 Mt [1][11][17]
219 24 December 1962 11:11:42.0 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°36′N 57°30′E / 73.6°N 57.5°E / 73.6; 57.5 (219) 0 + 3,750 m (12,300 ft) air drop,
weapons development
24.2 Mt [1][6][11][17] Reduced yield test of 50 Mt weapon.
220 25 December 1962 13:35:57.2 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°24′N 56°30′E / 73.4°N 56.5°E / 73.4; 56.5 (220) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft) air drop,
weapons development
3.1 Mt [1][7][11][17]
221 25 December 1962 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (221) 0 + 990 m (3,250 ft) air drop,
weapons development
8.5 kt [1][7][11] Last Soviet atmospheric test.
  1. ^ The US, 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. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.
  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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000). CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) (Technical report). SMDC Monitoring Research.
  2. ^ "Time Zone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. ^ Soviet Atomic Energy Program (PDF) (Technical report). National Intelligence Estimate 11-2A-62. Central Intelligence Agency. 16 May 1962. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  4. ^ Khalturin, Vitaly I.; Rautian, Tatyana G.; Richards, Paul G. (2000). "Chemical explosions during 1961-1989 on the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan" (PDF). Pure and Applied Geophysics. 158: 143–171. doi:10.1007/pl00001153. S2CID 128953780. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Cochran, Thomas B.; Arkin, William M.; Norris, Robert S.; Sands, Jeffrey I. Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons. New York, NY: Harper and Row.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc Podvig, Pavel, ed. (2001). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN 9780262661812. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions 1949 through 1990. Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. 1996. The official Russian list of Soviet tests.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Andrushkin, Vitaly V.; Leith, William (1 September 2001). The containment of Soviet underground nuclear explosions (PDF) (Open File Report 01-312). USGS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Nuclear explosions in the USSR: The North Test Site reference material, version 4 (PDF) (Technical report). IAEA Dept. of Nuclear Safety and Security. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Crampin, Stuart (1966). "Higher-mode seismic surface waves from atmospheric nuclear explosions over Novaya Zemlya". Journal of Geophysical Research. 71 (12): 2951–2958. Bibcode:1966JGR....71.2951C. doi:10.1029/jz071i012p02951.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj USSR Nuclear Tests, Hydronuclear Experiments, Plutonium Inventory. Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. 1998.
  12. ^ a b c Khalturin, Vitaly I.; Rautian, Tatyana G.; Richards, Paul G.; Leith, William S. (10 April 2004). "A Review of Nuclear Testing by the Soviet Union at Novaya Zemlya, 1955--1990" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 13 (1): 1–42. Bibcode:2005S&GS...13....1K. doi:10.1080/08929880590961862. S2CID 122069080. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Early testing at Novaya Zemlya". based on: "Боевые стрельбы с ядерными взрывами > История > «Всякая всячина» — Библиотечка разных статей". Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2011., http://flot.com/history/events/nucleararchipelago.htm and http://www.proatom.ru/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2312
  14. ^ a b c Saha, A. K.; Karabin, Mirjana; Mahajan, K. K. (1963). "Ionospheric effects following distant nuclear detonations". Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics. 25 (4): 212–218. Bibcode:1963JATP...25..212S. doi:10.1016/0021-9169(63)90166-1.
  15. ^ Sakharov, Andrei (1990). Memoirs. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
  16. ^ Operation Argus, 1958 (DNA6039F). Washington, DC: Defense Nuclear Agency, Department of Defense. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Keppler, E.; Pfotzer, G.; Riedler, W. (1964). "Radioactive debris from nuclear explosions in high altitudes". Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics. 26 (4): 429–436. Bibcode:1964JATP...26..429K. doi:10.1016/0021-9169(64)90024-8.