The results yielded by the experiment verified and confirmed the
earlier predictions.
They affect the design requirements for the elec-
tronic and warhead corrponents of intercontinental and intermediate
range ballistic missiles, the design of ballistic missile and air defense
radar equipment, and, especially, military short wave communication
equipment.
'
The successful performance of the experiment was in itself an
extraordinary accomplishment. Especially notable was the successful
launching of a large solid-fuel rocket carrying a nuclear payload from
the heaving deck of a ship in the squaily South Atlantic. Scarcely less
so is the fact that the whole experiment was planned and carried to a.
completely successful conclusion in less than five months, including
arrangements for coordinated measurements utilizing Explorer IV.
Impressive, too, is the fact that no leaks have occurred despite
the large number of civilian and military personnel involved in the
planning, in the Navy task force, in the preparation of Explorer IV and
the analysis of its data, and in subsequent scientific studies,
.
The Experiment
A|
KT nuclear weapon, carried by a solid fuel rocket, was
launched near 45° South Latitude in the Atlantic by the USS Norden Sound
and exploded in space at an altitude of about 350 kilometers. The
expanding, glowing bomb debris was confined and guided by the earth's
magnetic field so that after the first few seconds, the material moved
mainly along the magneti c field lines. The action of the field resembled
that of the barrel of a recoilless rifle. Half of the material plunged
immediately into the top of the atmosphere near the launching site
causing a man-made Aur ora. The other half arched up 4000 miles above
the equator and returned to earth, still guided by the field lines, near the
Azores where another Aurora and radar reflections from it were observed
‘
Along the trajectory, high energy electrons were emitted by the
flying fission products. It was mainly with these fission-decay electrons
in mind that the experiment had been planned, Physical principles had
indicated that the electrons should rebound rapidly from north to south
{ along the magnetic field lines, meanwhile progressing more slowly in
{ longitude, circling the earth ina few minutes. This zigzag motion should
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