om
Project 2.61'~ Rocket Determination of the Activity Distribution
Within the Stabilized Cloud - R. Soule
OBJECTIVES
To determine the spatial distribution of radioactivity in the cloud
of high yield thermonuclear detonations at two early times,
The fol-
lowing special objectives are sought:
Relative activity distribution between stem and cloud.
Rate of change of activity at early times.
Performance of atmospheric sounding vehicles (ASP) up to high
altitudes in an atomic cloud, and particularly whether information
4
can be telemetered out of the radioactive cloud.
.
DESCRIPTION AND FXPERIMSNTAL PROCEDURE
The radioactivity in the cloud was detected by pressure ion
chambers borne by rocket propelled atmospheric sounding vehicles.
The data was telemetered back to essentially duplicate receiving-
recording stations on Fnyu (Nan) and aboard the USS KNUDSEN.
Six rockets each were fired in two salvos at 5 minutes and 15
minutes after detonation.
aiming of the launchers.
Various trajectories were selected by preshot
Highest altitude achieved was about 160,000 ft.
RESULTS
All rockets fired and good signal strength was received on all
channels.
Radiation fields on the order of 20,000 r/hr at 74 minutes
were measured in the cloud,
it.
The blast wave stopped two generators at Bikini (How) causing loss of
the rocket launch signals,
4 Cope
brant Broo.
Rockets aimed at the stem apparently missed
Failure of automatic readout equipment prior
-29-
wa
Dd