See also: List of nuclear weapons tests of France.
1966–1970 | |
Country: | France |
Test Site: | Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll; Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP) |
Period: | 1966–1970 |
Number Of Tests: | 22 |
Test Type: | air drop, balloon, barge, dry surface |
Max Yield: | 2.6MtTNT |
Next Series: | 1971–74 French nuclear tests |
The France's 1966–1970 nuclear test series was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted in 1966–1970. These tests followed the In Ekker series and preceded the 1971–1974 French nuclear tests series.
- !style="background:#ffdead;" | Name [1] !style="background:#efefef;" | Date time (UT) !style="background:#ffdead;" | Local time zone[2] [3] !style="background:#efefef;" | Location[4] !style="background:#ffdead;" | Elevation + height [5] !style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery, [6] Purpose [7] !style="background:#efefef;" | Device[8] !style="background:#ffdead;" | Yield[9] !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Fallout[10] !style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes | - ! Aldébaran | 15:34:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.8686°N -139.0019°W | -35m (-115feet) + 10m (30feet) | barge, weapons development | An experimental tactical weapon. Fired on the third try. | - ! Tamouré | 15:05:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): 85 km E -21.7436°N -138.0022°W | 5m (16feet) + 1000m (3,000feet) | air drop, weapons development | [11] [12] | Dropped by a Mirage IV jet (Mirage IV A sn 9), France's first dropped tests. | - ! Ganymède | 12:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll: Colette ~ -21.7808°N -138.9035°W | 5m (16feet) + 12m (39feet) | dry surface, safety experiment | - ! Bételgeuse | 17:30:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.7917°N -138.8925°W | 5m (16feet) + 470m (1,540feet) | balloon, weapons development | Reportedly, because of de Gaulle's impatience (he was in attendance), it was fired before atmospheric conditions were correct, causing fallout to the west on American Samoa, Fiji, and Cook Islands. | - ! Rigel | 17:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.24°N -138.7228°W | -35m (-115feet) + 3m (10feet) | barge, weapons development | Boosted fission device. | - ! Sirius | 21:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.8717°N -139.0033°W | -35m (-115feet) + 10m (30feet) | barge, weapons development | - ! Altair | 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise -21.789°N -138.895°W | 5m (16feet) + 295m (968feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Antarès | 18:30:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.865°N -139°W | 5m (16feet) + 340m (1,120feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Arcturus | 17:30:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise -21.7864°N -138.8925°W | -35m (-115feet) + 3m (10feet) | barge, weapons development | Intended for a balloon, instead detonated at ground level, resulting in severe downwind fallout. | - ! Capella | 22:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 463m (1,519feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Castor | 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 650m (2,130feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Pollux | 21:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 490m (1,610feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Canopus | 18:30:00.5 | TAHT (–10 hr) | Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.2433°N -138.725°W | 5m (16feet) + 520m (1,710feet) | balloon, weapons development | First French thermonuclear detonation. It contaminated Fangataufa so highly that it lay unused for the next six years. | - ! Procyon | 19:00:01 | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.821°N -138.975°W | 5m (16feet) + 700m (2,300feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Andromède | 18:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 220m (720feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Cassiopée | 18:30:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 500m (1,600feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Dragon | 17:59:59.9 | TAHT (–10 hr) | Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.2392°N -138.7239°W | 5m (16feet) + 500m (1,600feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Eridan | 18:30:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 220m (720feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Licorne | 18:30:00.3 | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon -21.808°N -138.9173°W | 5m (16feet) + 500m (1,600feet) | balloon, weapons development | Six hours after the test, French Defense Minister Michel Debré swam in the lagoon as a PR ploy. | - ! Pégase | 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 220m (720feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Orion | 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate -22.2339°N -138.7169°W | 5m (16feet) + 400m (1,300feet) | balloon, weapons development | - ! Toucan | 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hr) | Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ -21.83°N -138.88°W | 5m (16feet) + 500m (1,600feet) | balloon, weapons development |