swords into plowshares an overview of the us plowshare program 1958-1975 cpt nicholas nazarko
Post on 15-Jan-2016
229 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Swords Into PlowsharesAn overview of the US Plowshare Program 1958-1975
CPT Nicholas Nazarko
Outline
• References • Plowshare’s Beginnings• Plowshare Program Objectives• Plowshare Program Scope• The Tests
• Project GNOME• Project SEDAN• Project BUGGY
http://www.nv.doe.gov/news&pubs/photos&films/testfilms.htmhttp://www.wipp.carlsbad.nm.us/science/UG_Lab/gnome/gnome.htmUS DOE Plowshare Executive Summary
References
Plowshare’s Beginnings
• Discussion of the peaceful use of nuclear detonations predates the Trinity test• Lewis L. Strauss - AEC Chairmen 1953-1958 expresses interest in the idea.• November 1956 - Herbert York, Director LRL-L proposes conference to discuss peaceful uses of nuclear explosions.
Herbert YorkLewis Strauss Hugh Cronin
• Livermore conference, held February 1957, discusses peaceful applications of nuclear devices and highlights numerous concerns• AEC approves the Plowshare Program June 1957• July 1957 - LRL-L formally establishes the Plowshare Project• RAINIER test (September 19, 1957) first successful underground nuclear detonation.• June 6, 1958 - AEC publicly announces Plowshare Program
Seismic Station at Tinamaha, California
Plowshare’s Beginnings
Plowshare’s Objectives“Use of nuclear explosives for civilian
as opposed to military purposes.”
Possible applications:
Large-Scale excavation and quarrying Underground Engineering
• Canals• Harbors• Highway/Railroad cuts• Quarry• Other construction related projects requiring large amounts of earthwork
• stimulation of natural gas production• preparation of leachable ore bodies• fracturing large bodies of oil shale• formation of underground storage reservoirs
Plowshare’s Scope• October 31, 1958 - Voluntary nuclear weapons testing moratorium• Plowshare enters a planning and high-explosive test phase.
• Pre-GNOME - prediction of nuclear generated seismic signals• SCOOTER - crater dimensions, throw-out, dust cloud generation• ROWBOAT - effect of burial and separation on crater dimensions• TUGBOAT - study of harbor excavation in coral with water overburden
• December 15th, 1958 - Peaceful Nuclear Explosives (PNE) branch of the Division of Military Activities established.• Dr. Edward Teller, Director of LRL-L, lays out an ambitious program.
HE Testing Locations
Plowshare’s Scope• September 1, 1961 - Moratorium ends with a Soviet nuclear explosion• Plowshare begins nuclear testing in earnest:
Nevada Test Site• 23 experiments• publicly available information• various objectives• safety first
Plowshare’s Scope
Plowshare’s Scope
The End for Plowshare
• Little confidence in money saving potential• Insufficient public and congressional support• Environmental and safety concerns
The most promising use of nuclear detonations was not excavation, but stimulation of natural gas production through the highly fractured rock produced in an explosion.
The Nuclear Tests - GNOME
The Nuclear Tests - GNOME
640’
290’
The Nuclear Tests - GNOME
The Nuclear Tests - BUGGY
The Nuclear Tests - SEDAN
The Nuclear Tests - SEDAN
Questions?
And they will have to beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
neither will they learn war anymore.'' - Isaiah 2:4
top related