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
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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
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