In this article, we are going to thoroughly explore Operation Cornerstone and its impact on today's society. Operation Cornerstone is a topic that has captured the attention of numerous experts and scholars in recent years, generating intense debate and giving rise to numerous analyzes and investigations. For a long time, Operation Cornerstone has been a point of discussion in different areas, influencing everything from politics to economics, including culture and technology. In the next paragraphs, we will delve into the different aspects of Operation Cornerstone, its evolution over time and the possible implications it has today.
Cornerstone | |
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Information | |
Country | United States |
Test site | NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa; NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa; NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat |
Period | 1988–1989 |
Number of tests | 11 |
Test type | underground shaft, tunnel |
Max. yield | 150 kilotonnes of TNT (630 TJ) |
Test series chronology | |
The United States's Cornerstone nuclear test series was a group of 11 nuclear tests conducted in 1988–1989. These tests [note 1] followed the Operation Touchstone series and preceded the Operation Aqueduct series.
Name [note 2] | Date time (UT) | Local time zone[note 3] | Location[note 4] | Elevation + height [note 5] | Delivery [note 6] Purpose [note 7] |
Device[note 8] | Yield[note 9] | Fallout[note 10] | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dalhart | October 13, 1988 14:00:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U4u 37°05′20″N 116°03′00″W / 37.08895°N 116.05013°W | 1,229 m (4,032 ft) – 639.78 m (2,099.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
150 kt | ||||
Monahans - 1 | November 9, 1988 20:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U3lk 36°59′28″N 116°01′19″W / 36.99116°N 116.02198°W | 1,175 m (3,855 ft) – 289.86 m (951.0 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Simultaneous, separate holes. | |||
Monahans - 2 | November 9, 1988 20:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U6i 36°59′19″N 116°01′19″W / 36.98868°N 116.02197°W | 1,174 m (3,852 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
less than 20 kt | Simultaneous, separate holes. | |||
Kawich Blue - 4 | December 9, 1988 15:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U8n 37°10′31″N 116°05′33″W / 37.17527°N 116.09261°W | 1,357 m (4,452 ft) + | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | Simultaneous, same hole with white. | |||
Kawich White - 3 | December 9, 1988 15:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U8n 37°10′31″N 116°05′33″W / 37.17527°N 116.09261°W | 1,357 m (4,452 ft) – 384 m (1,260 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
3 kt | Simultaneous, same hole with blue. | |||
Misty Echo | December 10, 1988 20:30:00.06 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U12n.23 37°11′56″N 116°12′37″W / 37.19899°N 116.21032°W | 2,232 m (7,323 ft) – 400 m (1,300 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
25 kt | Venting detected, 7 Ci (260 GBq) | |||
Texarkana | February 10, 1989 20:06:00.055 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U7ca 37°04′36″N 116°00′05″W / 37.07678°N 116.00137°W | 1,267 m (4,157 ft) – 504.02 m (1,653.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
67 kt | ||||
Kawich Black - 1 | February 24, 1989 16:15:00.08 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2cu 37°07′43″N 116°07′22″W / 37.1285°N 116.12267°W | 1,352 m (4,436 ft) – 431 m (1,414 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected | Simultaneous, same hole with red. | ||
Kawich Red - 2 | February 24, 1989 16:15:00.081 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2cu 37°07′43″N 116°07′22″W / 37.1285°N 116.12267°W | 1,352 m (4,436 ft) – 370 m (1,210 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | Venting detected, 10 Ci (370 GBq) | Simultaneous, same hole with black. | ||
Ingot | March 9, 1989 14:05:00.086 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U2gg 37°08′34″N 116°04′04″W / 37.14279°N 116.06781°W | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) – 500 m (1,600 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
33 kt | ||||
Palisade - 1 | May 15, 1989 13:10:00.087 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U4at 37°06′27″N 116°07′18″W / 37.10756°N 116.12176°W | 1,338 m (4,390 ft) – 345.22 m (1,132.6 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | Venting detected, 2 Ci (74 GBq) | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
Palisade - 2 | May 15, 1989 13:10:00.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U4at 37°06′27″N 116°07′18″W / 37.10756°N 116.12176°W | 1,338 m (4,390 ft) – 392 m (1,286 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
less than 20 kt | Venting detected | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
Palisade - 3 | May 15, 1989 13:10:00.09 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U4at 37°06′27″N 116°07′18″W / 37.10756°N 116.12176°W | 1,338 m (4,390 ft) – 404 m (1,325 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
8 kt | Venting detected | Simultaneous, same hole. | ||
Tulia | May 26, 1989 18:07:00.021 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U4s 37°05′09″N 116°03′24″W / 37.08587°N 116.05665°W | 1,230 m (4,040 ft) – 397.8 m (1,305 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
500 t | ||||
Contact | June 22, 1989 21:15:00.83 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U20aw 37°16′58″N 116°24′47″W / 37.28282°N 116.41319°W | 1,980 m (6,500 ft) – 544.1 m (1,785 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
60 kt | ||||
Amarillo | June 27, 1989 15:30:00.02 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U19ay 37°16′31″N 116°21′16″W / 37.27541°N 116.35444°W | 2,019 m (6,624 ft) – 640.1 m (2,100 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
20 kt | ||||
Disko Elm | September 14, 1989 15:00:00.098 | PST (–8 hrs) |
NTS Area U12p.03 37°14′09″N 116°09′49″W / 37.23589°N 116.16374°W | 1,917 m (6,289 ft) – 260 m (850 ft) | tunnel, weapon effect |
10 kt | Venting detected, 0.5 Ci (19 GBq) |