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1966–70 French nuclear tests

The France's 1966–1970 nuclear test series[1] 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.

1966–1970
Information
CountryFrance
Test siteColette zone, Moruroa Atoll; Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP)
Period1966–1970
Number of tests22
Test typeair drop, balloon, barge, dry surface
Max. yield2.6 megatonnes of TNT (11 PJ)
Test series chronology
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France's 1966–1970 series tests and detonations
Name [note 1]Date time (UT)Local time zone[note 2][2]Location[note 3]Elevation + height [note 4]Delivery, [note 5]
Purpose [note 6]		Device[note 7]Yield[note 8]Fallout[note 9]ReferencesNotes
Aldébaran2 July 1966 15:34:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′07″S 139°00′07″W / 21.868611°S 139.001944°W / -21.868611; -139.001944 (Aldébaran)−35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft)barge,
weapons development		AN-5228 kt[1][3][4][5]An experimental tactical weapon. Fired on the third try.
Tamouré19 July 1966 15:05:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): 85 km E 21°44′37″S 138°00′08″W / 21.743649°S 138.002247°W / -21.743649; -138.002247 (Tamouré)5 m (16 ft) + 1,000 m (3,300 ft)air drop,
weapons development		AN-1150 kt[1][3][4][5][6][7][8]Dropped by a Mirage IV jet (Mirage IV A sn 9), France's first dropped tests.
Ganymède21 July 1966 12:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll: Colette ~ 21°46′51″S 138°54′13″W / 21.780835°S 138.903544°W / -21.780835; -138.903544 (Ganymède)5 m (16 ft) + 12 m (39 ft)dry surface,
safety experiment		AN-22no yield[3][4][5]
Bételgeuse11 September 1966 17:30:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°47′30″S 138°53′33″W / 21.791667°S 138.892500°W / -21.791667; -138.892500 (Bételguese)5 m (16 ft) + 470 m (1,540 ft)balloon,
weapons development		MR-31110 kt[1][3][4][5]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.
Rigel24 September 1966 17:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′24″S 138°43′22″W / 22.240001°S 138.722784°W / -22.240001; -138.722784 (Rigel)−35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft)barge,
weapons development		125 kt[1][3][4][5]Boosted fission device.
Sirius4 October 1966 21:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′18″S 139°00′12″W / 21.871667°S 139.003333°W / -21.871667; -139.003333 (Sirus)−35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft)barge,
weapons development		205 kt[1][3][4][5]
Altair5 June 1967 19:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′20″S 138°53′42″W / 21.789°S 138.895°W / -21.789; -138.895 (Altair)5 m (16 ft) + 295 m (968 ft)balloon,
weapons development		15 kt[1][3][4][5]
Antarès27 June 1967 18:30:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°51′54″S 139°00′00″W / 21.865°S 139°W / -21.865; -139 (Antarès)5 m (16 ft) + 340 m (1,120 ft)balloon,
weapons development		120 kt[1][3][4][5]
Arcturus2 July 1967 17:30:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′11″S 138°53′33″W / 21.786389°S 138.892500°W / -21.786389; -138.892500 (Arcturus)−35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft)barge,
weapons development		22 kt[1][3][4][5]Intended for a balloon, instead detonated at ground level, resulting in severe downwind fallout.
Capella7 July 1968 22:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Capella)5 m (16 ft) + 463 m (1,519 ft)balloon,
weapons development		115 kt[1][3][4][5]
Castor15 July 1968 19:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Castor)5 m (16 ft) + 650 m (2,130 ft)balloon,
weapons development		MR-41450 kt[1][3][4][5]
Pollux3 August 1968 21:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pollux)5 m (16 ft) + 490 m (1,610 ft)balloon,
weapons development		MR-41150 kt[1][3][4][5]
Canopus24 August 1968 18:30:00.5TAHT (–10 hr)
Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′36″S 138°43′30″W / 22.243336°S 138.725009°W / -22.243336; -138.725009 (Canopus)5 m (16 ft) + 520 m (1,710 ft)balloon,
weapons development		2.6 Mt[1][3][4][5]First French thermonuclear detonation. It contaminated Fangataufa so highly that it lay unused for the next six years.
Procyon8 September 1968 19:00:01TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°49′16″S 138°58′30″W / 21.821°S 138.975°W / -21.821; -138.975 (Procyon)5 m (16 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft)balloon,
weapons development		1.3 Mt[1][3][4][5]
Andromède15 May 1970 18:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Andromède)5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft)balloon,
weapons development		13 kt[1][3][4][5]
Cassiopée22 May 1970 18:30:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Cassiopée)5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft)balloon,
weapons development		TN-60224 kt[1][3][4][5]
Dragon30 May 1970 17:59:59.9TAHT (–10 hr)
Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′21″S 138°43′26″W / 22.239176°S 138.723889°W / -22.239176; -138.723889 (Dragon)5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft)balloon,
weapons development		945 kt[1][3][4][5]
Eridan24 June 1970 18:30:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Eridan)5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft)balloon,
weapons development		12 kt[1][3][4][5]
Licorne3 July 1970 18:30:00.3TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°48′29″S 138°55′02″W / 21.80802°S 138.91727°W / -21.80802; -138.91727 (Licorne)5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft)balloon,
weapons development		TN-60914 kt[1][3][4][5]Six hours after the test, French Defense Minister Michel Debré swam in the lagoon as a PR ploy.
Pégase27 July 1970 19:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pégase)5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft)balloon,
weapons development		50 t[1][3][4][5]
Orion2 August 1970 19:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′02″S 138°43′01″W / 22.233889°S 138.716944°W / -22.233889; -138.716944 (Orion)5 m (16 ft) + 400 m (1,300 ft)balloon,
weapons development		72 kt[1][3][4][5]
Toucan6 August 1970 19:00:??TAHT (–10 hr)
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Toucan)5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft)balloon,
weapons development		594 kt[1][3][4][5]

References

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