TL: NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING COUNTRIES - Briefing
SO: Josh Handler. Greenpeace International, (GP)
DT: April, 1996
Keywords: environment nuclear weapons military testing
agreements politics conferences /

 
Greenpeace
April 1996
 
UNITED STATES
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  The U.S. started studying
the possibility of building nuclear weapons in 1939-1940.  In
1942, the official decision was taken to proceed with building
a bomb and the Manhattan Project was established.
 
First Nuclear Test:  16 July 1945, Alamogordo, New Mexico.  
Last Nuclear Test:  23 September 1992, National Test Site,
Nevada.
 
How Many:  1030 tests (215 atmospheric, 815 underground).  
Present nuclear test site:  National Test Site (NTS), Nevada,
USA.
 
Past nuclear test sites:  In the U.S.:  Alamogordo, New
Mexico; Carlsbad, New Mexico; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Grand
Valley, Colorado; Rifle, Colorado; Farmington, New Mexico;
Amchitka, Alaska; Central Nevada; Fallon, Nevada; Nevada
Bombing Range.  In the Pacific:  Johnston Atoll; Eniwetok
Atoll; Bikini Atoll; Christmas Island.  There have also been
three nuclear tests in the South Atlantic Ocean and four in
the Pacific Ocean.
 
 
USSR
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  During the 1930s, the
Soviet Union had research programs on atomic and nuclear
physics.  In 1943, a pilot project was established to pursue
the development of nuclear weapons.
 
First nuclear test:  29 August 1949, either at or near
Semipalitinsk or in the vicinity of the Aral Sea or on the
northeast shore of the Caspian Sea.
 
Last nuclear test:  25 October 1990, Novaya Zemlya.
 
How many:  715 tests (207 atmospheric, 508 underground).
 
Present nuclear test site:  Arctic islands of Novaya Zemlya.  
Past nuclear test sites:  Semipalitinsk, Kazakhstan; near
Azgir and Astrakhan in Western Kazakhstan; the Ukraine;
Uzbekistan; Turkmenistan.  Underground nuclear tests also were
conducted all across the USSR, outside the formal test sites,
as part of a program of 'Peaceful Nuclear Explosions'.
 
FRANCE
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  Although French physicists
were leaders in the field of 20th century nuclear physics it
was not until 1951 that the military started showing an
interest in nuclear weapons.  Toward the end of 1954, France
officially decided to build a nuclear bomb.
 
First nuclear test:  13 February 1960, Reggane, Algeria.
 
Last nuclear test:  27 January 1996, Moruroa atoll, South
Pacific.
 
How many:  210 tests (50 atmospheric, 160 underground).
 
Past nuclear test sites:  In Algeria near Reggane, and in the
Hoggar Massif at In Ecker.  Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls,
South Pacific (with its last test on 27 January 1996, France
has declared it will close its South Pacific test site).
 
UNITED KINGDOM
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  The U.K. started looking
into nuclear weapons in late 1940-early 1941.  Unable to
develop a weapon by themselves, the British passed their data
to the U.S. and then assisted in the U.S. Manhattan Project
from 1943 till the U.S. terminated the cooperation at the end
of World War II.  In 1947, Britain decided build its own
nuclear weapons.
 
First nuclear test:  3 October 1952, Monte Bello Islands,
Australia.
 
Last nuclear test:  26 November 1991, U.S. National Test Site,
Nevada.
 
How many:  45 tests (21 atmospheric, 24 underground).
 
Present nuclear test site:  U.S. National Test Site, Nevada.  
Past nuclear test sites:  Monte Bello Islands, Australia; Emu
Field, Australia; Maralinga Test Ranges, Australia; Christmas
Island, Pacific; Malden Island, Pacific.
 
 
CHINA
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  China officially decided
to obtain nuclear weapons in 1955.
 
First nuclear test:  16 October 1964, Lop Nor test site in
Xinjiang Province.
 
Last nuclear test:  16 August 1996. Still conducting nuclear
tests.
 
How many:  43 tests to date (23 atmospheric, 20 underground).
China is thought to have plans for at least four more nuclear
tests.
 
Present nuclear test site:  Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang
Province.
 
Past nuclear test site:  same as above.
 
 
INDIA
 
Origin of nuclear weapons program:  India's Atomic Energy
Commission was established in 1954.  The existing nuclear
program began to include a nuclear explosives program after
China tested their first nuclear weapon in 1964.  In 1970,
officials started stating publicly that India was looking into
the possibility of using nuclear weapons for peaceful
purposes.
 
First nuclear test:  18 May 1974, near village of Pokharan,
Rajasthan Desert.
 
Last nuclear test:  same as above.
 
How many:  one test (declared to be a Peaceful Nuclear
Explosion by the Indian authorities).
 
Present nuclear test site:  Rajasthan Desert, Jaisalmer
District.  
Past nuclear test site:  same as above.