DMA Central File
MRA-7
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Test Planning - 60 ——<aagr 61
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411724
Ltr (21 Jan 60) from Loper (Ch, MLC) to McCone (Ch, AEC):
Notes President's recent announcement pertaining to test moratorium
and says time may be to prepare joint AEC-DOD requirements of weapons
for testing and plan for underground series so approval may be obtained
to initiate preps requiring funds and
effort.et
need to
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for unn@erground series.
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AEC neve
ne
really answered above until SES?
- Loper ltr in July 60
after "events had made such specific test planning less worthwhile".
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A draft reply from Ch, AEC in April (not sent) noted NTS preps for
7 or 8 priority shots and response times ranging from 2 to 18 mos. for
other shots mentioned by Loper.
(Notes recent events "make it inappropriate at this time to sv_bmit specific proposals for early testing.')
Another round of Loper discussion and Starbird response memo to McCone
in Dec 60 & Jan 61 on possible benefits of nuclear testing.
Note - in May 1960, efforts of ALO diverted from Succotash to Vela
Uniform.
No budget allowance between 1 Jun 60 and early 61 for test readiness
at NTS - only for Vela Uniform. Jan 25, 1961 letter from Starbird to
Reeves asks him to plan and do what can be done (in spite of budget
restrictions) to work toward a "more complete test capability."
General
guidelines for possible NTS underground testing:
3 to 6 month readiness to do about 6 most important
shots (abbreviated Succotash) plus longer range program
Stresses there should be no impression that test resumption
is imminent.
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Above was in part in reply to Reeves letter to Starbird of Nov 10, 1960
of change in NTS readiness due to shift away from Succotash (LRL plan
only$) to Vela Uniform.
Detailed response of weapons and NTS tunnel preps needed and readiness
dates from Harold Brown (LRL) on April 10, 1961. Notes changes (negative)
since similar status report on 17 August 1960.
10 April 61 letter from Gen. Holloway (MLC, AF Member) to Betts asked
AEC current requirements for AF support (e.g., sampling) and correctness
of assuming 6 - 12 month build-up period.
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14 Apr 61 TWX from Johnson (LRL) to DMA to do some preparing (cables,
construction, instrumentation) at NTS to really be ready.
2 May 61 reply
by Betts says NO due to current sensitivity.
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"Possible Resumption of Weapons Tests''; says possibility of break-up at
2 May 61 itr from Pitzer (Ch, Gen. Adv. Com. to AEC}to Seaborg addresses
Geneva makes it imperative AEC be prepared to resume tests.
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