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Accidental Orion?
I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground
nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? |
#2
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Accidental Orion?
In article ,
Parallax wrote: I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? Half-apocryphal. According to people who were there, the shaft (a steel tube) was capped with a welded-on steel plate -- not terribly massive -- as an "oh, what the hell" afterthought. A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation suggested that its *initial* velocity might exceed escape velocity. This was not verified in detail, nor was any attempt made to determine whether the plate would survive passage through the atmosphere. The plate was gone after the test, but its exact fate was not determined. (One film frame showed a blur that might have been the plate being blown off -- not really enough data to deduce anything from.) -- MOST launched 30 June; first light, 29 July; 5arcsec | Henry Spencer pointing, 10 Sept; first science, early Oct; all well. | |
#3
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Accidental Orion?
On 19 Oct 2003 18:41:17 -0700, (Parallax)
wrote: I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? From the Encyclopedia Astronautica: http://www.astronautix.com/chrono/19573.htm "1957 Aug 10 - Claimed first manmade object to escape from earth Nation: USA. Payload: Steel Metal Cover. In the summer of 1957 physicist Bob Brownlee attempted to 'contain' the blast effects of an atomic explosion from a device placed at the bottom of a 500 foot vertical shaft in the Nevada desert. A four-inch-thick steel plate weighing 'several hundred pounds' is placed over the hole (diameter not specified). This blew off as expected in the blast and was seen in films to depart the area at six times escape velocity . Brownlee never publicly challenged the Soviet's claim (to having launched the 1st Earth satellite. References: 92 ." (# 92) - Project "Thunderwell", Air & Space Smithsonian Feb-Mar 1992. From the The "Nuclear Weapon Archive" more extensive info: http://gawain.membrane.com/hew/Usa/T...b.html#PascalB -- Rusty Barton - Antelope, California | E-mail - | Visit my Minuteman ICBM website at: | http://www.geocities.com/minuteman_missile | |
#4
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Accidental Orion?
I'd say this is rubbish, it would have burned up, but more likely just
vaporised in stu. Brian -- Brian Gaff.... graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________ __________________________________ "Parallax" wrote in message om... | I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground | nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped | with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally | vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. | Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. | Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing | reveals nothing? --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.528 / Virus Database: 324 - Release Date: 16/10/03 |
#5
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Accidental Orion?
hear ya go
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/.../manhole.shtml the article wanders at bit....but it gets back to the "facts" your interested in near the end of the longish article... I used to have a link dirrectly to an article written by the scientist in charge of the project...it was nice little article with facts from the guy that WAS there....but alas I cant find it...maybe you can with the info the article... take care Bll |
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Accidental Orion?
In message -
(Parallax)19 Oct 2003 18:41:17 -0700 writes: I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? I vaguely remember something like this posted here years ago. AFAIR, the speed had been measured from the footage of high speed cameras accompanying such tests and it was abou 30 km/Sec which, if memory serves, is even Sun escape velocity (not taking into account the atmospheric drag loss)... I attempted to search for "nuclear test" or "underground test" combined with "30 km/Sec" but only found asteroid impacts related URLs... ************************************************** **************************** * Arie Kazachin, Israel, e-mail: * ************************************************** **************************** NOTE: before replying, leave only letters in my domain-name. Sorry, SPAM trap. |
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Accidental Orion?
Parallax wrote:
I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? Do a Google search on "Project Thunderwell" (quotes and all) This is one of the hits: http://gawain.membrane.com/hew/Usa/T...b.html#PascalB I first heard of this in an article about nuclear pulse rocketry in Air & Space magazine, ten-odd years back... -- You know what to remove, to reply.... |
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Accidental Orion?
Parallax wrote: I recently read somewhere a story about one of the first underground nuclear tests called Bernallilo in which the vertical shaft was capped with a massive steel plug. After the shot which was intentionally vented to the atmosphere, that the steel cap wasn't found. Calculations indicated that its velocity far exceeded earth escape. Apocryphal or plausible? A search on underground nuclear testing reveals nothing? gee wonder why? \ some people want to keep secrets, national security. but theorize your heart away.then tell us all about it. got windows holog |
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Accidental Orion?
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