CHAPTER ITI EARLY MANNED SAMPLING ACTIVITIES Following Operation SANDSTONE there were three years during which no muclear testing was attempted by the United States, However, the | Atomic Energy Commission continued research and laboratory experiments on nuclear weapon design and determined more testing woold be needed, One of the drawbacks to muclear testing was the high cost of operating in the Pacific. ‘The Atomic Energy Commission, therefore, suggested that a location within the United States be used for smaller nuclear detonations, Several_sites were cmsidered mt no action taken, Sampling Operation RANGER Meanwhile, time approached for another test series, This was Operation GREENHOUSE, scheduled for the Pacific Proving Grounds in 1951, However, there were a number of minor weapon design problems which needed solving beforehand, and in November 1950, the Atomic Energy Commission resurrected its proposal for a continental testing site. In December, approval was given to use the Las Vegas Bonbing Range, northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, The Atomic Energy Commission also proposed that the testing site be put to use immediately to secure the information needed for GREENHOUSE. This proposal was sent to the President who approved it on 11 Jarmary 1951, and Operation RANGER followed.From the first proposal to the final shot the entire operation was planned and executed in less than three months, Though “quick and dirty," Operation RANGER contained a good many "firsts" in atomic testing. It was the first nuclear detonation in the United States since the TRINITY; contained 29 ArWLHU SWEH-2-003h US “os