Meetings #1345-1349, 22 March-l April58:
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Discussion began and continued threug]: this period on the subject of one
AlG
of the high altitude shots (TEAK) planned for Hardtack during this gummee,”
At the beginning of the discussions, two problems existed.
One was that
in order to’acquire what was felt to be necessary technical data from the
Teak event, a satellite must be launched quickly which would gather this
data and would use the same launch team as planned to be used at Enewetok.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, is the eye burn problem associated
with this
.
burst at an altitude of about 250, 000 feet.
York,
Cgle, and Dunham have been mentioned as estimating the eye burn hazard
radius as being about 350 miles.
This would include from 2,000 to 4,000
natives depending on whether the shot was done during the day or at night.
Even with the assurances of the Task Force Commander as to how he
could control the population, the commission is exttemely worried about
this eye burn problem.
Starbird recommended two things:
that the
satellite be launched the week of 24 March, and that the shot be fired
on 16.April as planned.
At the outset, it is noted that Ludekeis discussing
the problem with trust territory officials, and chairman Strauss
to discuss it with Secretary of State Dulles.
intends
Starbird maintained throughout
the discussion thatfiring the shot at a reduccd yield just would not provide the
information required for defense purposes.
number of factors, sucha
Starbird pointed outa
that the available warheads
for sucha test
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