000007-Operation Argus--United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests--Nuclear Test Personnel Review. 142 Pages 1982 (Report Date) THIS DOCUMENT IS FURNISHED ON CDROM FORMAT Operation ARGUS was the designation given to the three high-altitude nuclear test shots conducted by the United States in the South Atlantic Ocean in August and September 1958. The ARGUS shots were conducted to test the Christofilos theory, which argued that high-altitude nuclear detonations would create a radiation belt in the upper regions of the Earth's atmosphere. It was theorized that the radiation belt would have military implications, including degradation of radio and radar transmissions, damage or destruction of the arming and fuzing mechanisms of ICBM warheads, and endangering the crews of orbiting space vehicles that might enter the belt. Historical Background The tests were conducted in complete secrecy and were not announced until the following year. The organization conducting these tests was Task Force 88, a naval organization consisting of nine ships and approximately 4,500 men. A few specialists from the other services and the Atomic Energy Commission and their contractors were with the fleet. Coordinated measurement programs using satellite, rocket, aircraft, and surface stations were carried out by the services and other government agencies and contractors throughout the world. The ships of Task Force 88 were the antisubmarine warfare support aircraft carrier USS TARAWA (CVS-40), the destroyers USS BEARSS (DD-654) and USS WARRINGTON (DD-843), the destroyer escorts USS COURTNEY (DE-1021) and USS HAMMERBERG (DE-1015), the fleet oilers USS NEOSHO (AO-143) and USS SALAMONIE (AO-26), the missile trials ship USS NORTON SOUND (AVM-1), and the seaplane tender USS ALBEMARLE (AV-5). The low-yield (1 to 2 kiloton) devices were lifted to about a 300-mile altitude by rockets fired from the ship, NORTON SOUND. The detonations occurred at such distances above the Earth that there was no possibility of exposure of task force personnel to ionizing radiation. The results of the ARGUS operation proved the validity of the Christofilos theory. The establishment of an electron shell derived from neutron and beta decay of fission products and ionization of device materials in the upper fringe of the atmosphere was demonstrated. The operation not only provided data on military considerations but also produced a great mass of geophysical data, pure scientific material of great value. THIS DOCUMENT IS FURNISHED ON CDROM FORMAT - THIS IS AN EBOOK.