the cebris was spread ower a radius
Rate of rise of
=.
the debris was measured fros Edgerton, Germeshausen and Grier (E545) pbotograpas
dicate Chat radiockenical samplings by rocket penetracicn are mot pearly as disficult as was believed before Teak, when cany estizcates gave the cebris a 10Q0~-
foot radius and a rise velocity of ower 10,000 feet per second,
Based on early estimates of a very somll debris radius and possibly 200to 500-kmot expected winds at Teak burst altitude, a system was ceweloped for
ejecting chaff at up ta 300,000 feet altitude to obtain wind daca at ani above
Teaz burst altitude.
These wiads would allow radiochemical sampling rockets to
be aimed to intercept the moving debris.
After experience with Teak, it is ap-
parent, because of the tremendous debris volume, that a wind correction is not
needed in ordzr to intercept the cloud.
However, the 15 pre-Teak firings of
bigh-altitude chaff rockets gathered data of mich scientific interest per se,
and rhese observations, together with those which followed, are summarized in 2
report by L. B. saith.?
Om Orange shot the radiochemical sampling rockets and associated instmmentation worked with aloost 100-percene success, and there is Little doubt that a
sample would have been obtained had the rockets intercepted the rapidly moving
debris (see Chapter §).
Interception would probably have taken place had the
burst point not been about 3 ailes higher than planned.
Recovery of aissile-carried instrumentation from the open ocean has been
demonstrated to be a reliable and practical means for gathering data on hizhaltitude tests (see Chapter 5).
Of the 15 nose cones for which recovery was
atte=pred, 12 were successfully retrieved.
During initial plaming for the Teak
and Orange shots, chances for such a recowecy record were believed to be nearly
impossible.
Limitations of telemetry from instrumented structcres in the air at
burst tine are reasonsbly well established (see Chepters 7 acd 9).
Optical data froe ground stations appear to offer such diazgzostic evidence,
aod air-borce >easuremects of neutron, gamma-ray, and I-ray yieles of hizh-
alticude bursts cao pow be attempted with high lizelihood of success (see Caspters
2, 3, acd &).
Thus it seems feasible co test many aspects of coproven warheads
at high alcitudes where fallout of radioactivity is neglizg:die.
Ic is intereat-
ing to cote that Teas acd Oranze shots were actually fired ca the scheduled cays.
Tais bas seldom been accomplished with segatcn-yield devices.