French Nuclear Test "Aldeberan"

A few clips from the French nuclear test "Aldeberan".

Aldebaran was the first nuclear test conducted at the CEP. This was a test of the MR-50 CTC (Charge Tactique Commune - common tactical warhead). This was the first test in which a barge was used for the detonation of the nuclear device. The barge containing the nuclear device was moored at the Dindon testing sector on the western end of the atoll. This method of testing would be used for a further three tests (Rigel, Sirius, and Arcturus).

Aldebaran was detonated at 5:34 local time on July 2, 1966 with a yield of 28 kilotons. Unpredicted wind change following the explosion spread radioactive fallout over the nearby islands of the Gambiers. Aldebaran was one of 10 nuclear tests in which wind changed direction shortly after detonation; six of these incidents would spread radioactive fallout on nearby islands.

One hour after the blast, radioactive levels on Mangareva Atoll reached 0.1 millisieverts an hour. Three hours later, levels reached 0.58 millisieverts an hour. Apparently the local populations were not notified about the radiological situation.

Documents recently made public state that four days after the test, drinking water was measured to contain six times normal levels of radioactivity on Mangareva. Unwashed lettuce contained 666 times the normal level. Six days after the test, levels in drinking water were 50 times above normal background levels.

The MR-50 was the basis for the design of the AN-51 CTC and AN-52 CTC warheads. The AN-51 was later proof tested on 5 June 1971 (Dione) with a yield of 15 kt. The AN-51 armed the Pluton tactical missile which went into service 1 May 1974. The AN-52 was a parachute retarded gravity bomb deployed on the Mirage IIIEn Jaguar A aircraft and Super Etendard. The AN-52 was France's first tactical nuclear weapon. This warhead was airdropped and detonated with a yield of 6.6 kilotons on August 28, 1973 (Tamara). The AN-52 was stockpiled from October 1972 to September 1991.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• French
• France
• Nuclear
• Atomic
• test

[jekke1980]

Better France having them instead of Iran.

[EnvelTheTrader]

@ImperatorDerGalaxis what gives u the authority to tell other countries what they can or cannot do?

[yougojay]

Merde motherfucking sainte sur un bâton qui est irréel ! ! !

[bombcat91]

@EnvelTheTrader Surely the Supreme Council of the fictional galaxy in which it is the emperor.

[EnvelTheTrader]

@jekke1980 wrong. better iran having them than france or israel. and better anyone but usa.

[RoboCorpse3000]

@alpacks It's just a film artifact due to crappy quality. If the film were restored I'm sure the extra "flash" would probably go away.

[CrazedNovaProduction]

looks like a tornado at 0:29

[Fridomfry]

... to say the least ! You surely remember that the French and Israeli developed their nuclear deterrence programs in close cooperation, until 1967.

[alpacks]

no thermonuclear, france have been testing her first thermonuclear weapon in 1968 ...

this test is in 1966, just classical plutonium or uranium fission stage

but france was developped doped fission stage before thermonuclear 2 stages bomb

with plutonium doped tritium bomb, is a most powerfull medium nuclear weapon between trinity model and 2 stage fission-fusion

but doped bomb is not 20-30 kT ... but rather 100-200-500 kt

[gkyy3c]

isnt that termonuclear ?