The ultimate purnose of the tests wes to insure efficient utilization of the national resources recuired for the development and ‘application of atomic energy. Captain Fussell has suggested to you that the Los Alanos Laboratory hed develoved nev weapon designs, It is obvious that a research and develonment program of any nature cannot long be fruitful if the product of the program never gets tested, IRf the nation elects to develop and manufacture atomic weapons, these weapons must be tested, Unlike other bombs, however, the cost in actual cash, man hours and natural resources is cuite high for each weapon. Moreover, the physical processes going on during the explosion of en atomic bomb are very complicated, For these reasons, development and improvement of atomic weapons cannot be cerriéd on by the common methods of making sm*il changes in current models and sroof-testing after cach chanee, 7 8 sat deal of physical research and mathematical analysi f an atomic weapon. therefore, tests of the ‘ind have just connleted *are designed primarily to vrovide expertimntal data necessary for a better understending of the process of nuclear explosicn and nece“ssary to form a sound besis for improved design of weapons, Certainly such tests do include proof-firing new models of weapons, but the model types must be selected csrefully in order to : Lu re make informetion obtained from one test supplementary to thet obtsined from another, A well planned series of a = tomic weepon tests can yield much more information then an cQunal numoer of unrslated single tests. Proof-tests of new models often can bs carricd out uncer conditions that make it vossibl: to attain secondary, but important objectives, Without interference with the prime ry objective, mach informstion can be gfincd which is useful in the pesesful srnnlicctions of atomic energy. We have not hed t ‘me of the experhsnba data ob but 4 small portion at we: have ‘ « tests profitable. Me are> very,‘pleased mith the results, Cur tests -were not successful merely bectuse the weapons we used exploded with a icud bang. hes were successful beesuse the weapons did explode end we obtained good experimenteél data “phioh will guide us in ressrren and development in the ce future . One of the most grat 2 results of the entire operation hes been 8. body of ideas, theories and methods which the confirmation cf the large t terl & c and experimental work done since the have grown cut of the theore war et the Los Alamos Gelentific i Laboratory. ree ne