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Messrs. York and Ogle, Dr. Dunham and General Starbird have
now estimated that the size of the area over which this effect would
occur is a circle with a radius of 350 miles. This means that
if the shot is fired at the test site, the flash would cover the
Test Site, Ronjelap and other islands and parts of the warning area.
The Commander, Joint Task Force-7, General Alvin R. Luedecke,
believes he can provide adequate warning and protection, Mr. Strauss
said, but, although the results of this test would improve the
defenses of the free world, the matter before the Commission is the
responsibility for making a decision which may endanger the well
being of people who are not represented here.
General Starbird commented on the importance to our strategic
defense of the data to be obtained from this test. It is expected
to confirm a recently developed theory that, by establishing a
magnetic field which holds electrons in bands around the earth,
one can destroy enemy ICBM's or blot out radar.
A side effect is
interference with radio transmission through ionization of these
bands which will then not bounce radio waves back to earth, Shooting
the specially equipped satellite next week will place it in orbit
in time to assure that the predicted effects of the TEAK shot on
the satellite counters can be measured,
The Killian Committee, when informed of the implications of
the desired information insofar as our defense is concerned, had
been disturbed at the possibility of the Soviets orbiting a satellite
at this time which could also confirm this theory. It does not
appear, however, that they will be doing so and the Committee therefore
urges all possible effort to shoot the U.S. satellite and the
TEAK shot as soon as possible,
The flash from a night firing is expected to cover a 370 mile
range in which 4000 natives are located. A day firing would
cover a 220 mile range and 2000 natives. General Starbird said a
night firing was preferable because more energy would be released
and data measurements would be more accurate,
General Starbird said there were three questions which had
been considered:
1.
Should a lower yield shot be fired‘
This does
not appear desirable because a veduction from the planned
yield of 3.8 MT to 500 RT would decrease the flash area by
only 25 percent, Additionally, replacement of rocket gear
would be hurried and possibly result in a test failure;
»
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