Meetings #1345-1349, 22 March-l April58:

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Discussion began and continued threug]: this period on the subject of one

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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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