Optical seasuresents cescrided in Chapter hl were cade primarily to record unexpected optical phencmesa.
lnsees, estes the six lO -isape-peresecsai caseras
; |
\) \ \
with resning tices of 2.5 aicuctes and ~5S-degree fields of wiew were iscluded
“ ay
in Prograa 3, there were oo predictions chat interestizg optical phenomena
would secur at such a late time and over such a large part’ot Che ssy.
(D
However,
“vo.
it is sow obvious that spectacular, scientifically interesting, and possibly
milicarily significacet optical phenomena were present
Written descriptions o
t various people saw arethe sole existing peraanent
record of saany of the peculiar phenomena which toox place, and for this reason
such descriptions are included in che appendix to this report.
A considerable
fraction of optical coverage on Teak was lost because of the appraxi=zately 35kilcfooct displacement of the actual burst froma intended burst zero; cloud cover
on Orarge caused aany data to be lost.
However, optical data which were obtained
are of auch interest.
In addition to the spectacular and unexpected optical display, many unexpected phenomena occurred in radiofrequency propagation, acoustic signals,
rise and spread of bowb debris, thermal radiation on the ground, gamma-ray output froa the warhead, thersal neutroa output froma the warhead, and cany others.
Nearly every Sandia project gathered scoe “unexpected"™ data the potential significance of
which, in many instances, is not clear.
It is obvious, certainly,
that Teak and Orange uncovered more problems than they answered.
As to che third objective, the feasibility of telemetering certain informative diagnostic data on device perforaance has been demonstrated (see Chapter
9).
Ic is self-evident thac testing in the upper atmosphere is feasible and,
even further, the experience gained on Teak and Orange show that it is feasible
to carry out proof tests of warheads in space as well as in the high atmosphere.
Space tests will, initially ac least, lack the advantages of detailed optical
coverage and recoverable instrimentation.
Much was learned pertinent to radiochenical sacpling of bursts such as
Teak azd Orange.
In view of the many estimates of a debris radius for Teak of
1000 feet, it was surprising to some to leara that within 10 seconds aiter burst
e
«
For as exceilent unclassified article on the optical display in Zavaii,
see "Photographs of the High Altitude Nuclear Explosion ‘Teak’,Jourzal of
Geopaysical Research, Vol. 65, No. 2, Febcuary 1560, p. 535.
AN
°