1962 Soviet nuclear tests

Last updated

1962
Nuclear Blast Animation Rising Mushroom Cloud.gif
Nuclear blast animation
Information
CountrySoviet Union
Test site Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea); NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia
Period1962
Number of tests78
Test typeair drop, atmospheric, cruise missile, dry surface, high alt rocket (30–80 km), tower, tunnel
Max. yield24.2 megatonnes of TNT (101 PJ)
Test series chronology
Map all coordinatesin "1962 Soviet nuclear tests" using: OpenStreetMap  

The Soviet Union's 1962 nuclear test series [1] was a group of 78 nuclear tests conducted in 1962. These tests followed the Soviet Project K nuclear tests series and preceded the 1964 Soviet nuclear tests series.

Soviet Union's 1962 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] References Notes
143 Argon 1 (Joe 120)2 February 1962 08:00:00.2 ALMT (6 hrs)Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: A-1 49°46′55″N77°59′46″E / 49.78198°N 77.99618°E / 49.78198; 77.99618 (143 Argon 1 (Joe 120)) 700 m (2,300 ft) + tunnel,
weapon effect
15 kt [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] First Soviet underground test.
1441 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (144) N/A + 430 m (1,410 ft)atmospheric,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1453 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (145) N/A + 180 m (590 ft)atmospheric,
weapons development
1.6 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1464 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (146) N/A + 390 m (1,280 ft)atmospheric,
weapons development
3.8 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
1475 August 1962 09:08:45.8 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N52°30′E / 74.2°N 52.5°E / 74.2; 52.5 (147) 0 + 3,600 m (11,800 ft)air drop,
weapons development
21.1 Mt [1] [6] [10] [11]
1487 August 1962 03:00:?? ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°27′22″N77°46′23″E / 50.456°N 77.773°E / 50.456; 77.773 (148) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
9.9 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
14910 August 1962 09:00:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (149) 0 + 1,560 m (5,120 ft)air drop,
weapons development
400 kt [1] [5] [6] [11]
15018 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (150) 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft)air drop,
weapons development
7.4 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
15118 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (151) N/A + 310 m (1,020 ft)atmospheric,
weapons development
5.8 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
15220 August 1962 09:02:14.1 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°18′N51°30′E / 74.3°N 51.5°E / 74.3; 51.5 (152) 0 + 2,500 m (8,200 ft)air drop,
weapons development
2.8 Mt [1] [10] [11] [12] Khalturin names this an ICBM test from Chita.
15321 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (153) 280 m (920 ft) + 590 m (1,940 ft)air drop,
weapons development
23 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
15622 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (156) 280 m (920 ft) + 740 m (2,430 ft)air drop,
weapons development
3 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
155 Shkval (Flurry)22 August 1962 09:00:00 MSK (3 hrs)Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 73°43′N45°12′E / 73.71°N 45.2°E / 73.71; 45.2 (Launch_155 Shkval (Flurry)) , elv: 0 + 2,000 m (0 + 6,562 ft);
Detonation over Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) ~ 73°45′N52°18′E / 73.75°N 52.3°E / 73.75; 52.3 (155 Shkval (Flurry))
0 + 60 m (200 ft)cruise missile,
weapons development
6 kt [1] [6] [11] [12] [13] Air launched (from TU-16K) cruise missile test. No other information on launch; trajectory is a guess. Location known only as "Kara Sea"; lat/lon a guess; official lat/lon is in NZ land corral.
15422 August 1962 09:00:04.2 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70°59′30″N55°31′43″E / 70.9917°N 55.52855°E / 70.9917; 55.52855 (154) 0 + 1,700 m (5,600 ft)air drop,
weapons development
1.6 Mt [1] [10] [11] [12] [14]
15723 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (157) 280 m (920 ft) + 680 m (2,230 ft)air drop,
weapons development
2.5 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
15925 August 1962 05:40:?? ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (159) 280 m (920 ft) + 715 m (2,346 ft)air drop,
weapons development
1 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
15825 August 1962 09:??:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (158) 0 + 2,980 m (9,780 ft)air drop, 10 Mt [1] [5] [6] [11] [14]
16127 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (161) 280 m (920 ft) + 245 m (804 ft)air drop,
weapons development
11 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
16027 August 1962 09:00:50.9 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°42′N50°18′E / 74.7°N 50.3°E / 74.7; 50.3 (160) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft)air drop,
weapons development
4.2 Mt [1] [10] [11] [14]
16231 August 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (162) 280 m (920 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft)air drop,
fundamental science
2.7 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1632 September 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (163) 0 + 1,300 m (4,300 ft)air drop,
weapons development
80 kt [1] [11]
unnumbered #46 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (unnumbered #4) 280 m (920 ft) + atmospheric, less than 0.001 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
164 Tyulpan (Tulip)8 September 1962 10:17:57.7 MSK (3 hrs)Launch from Zabaykalsky (then Chita), Russia 51°54′48″N113°07′50″E / 51.91335°N 113.13053°E / 51.91335; 113.13053 (Launch_164 Tyulpan (Tulip)) , elv: 685 + 0 m (2,247 + 0 ft);
Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°42′N53°48′E / 73.7°N 53.8°E / 73.7; 53.8 (164 Tyulpan (Tulip))
N/A + 1,725 m (5,659 ft)high alt rocket (30–80 km),
weapons development
1.9 Mt [1] [10] [11] [13] Launched on an R-14 rocket from "Yasnaya railroad station" south of Chita toward Mityushikha Bay, NZ, 3600 km across Siberia. Probable ABM test.
16515 September 1962 08:02:13.9 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°24′N51°30′E / 74.4°N 51.5°E / 74.4; 51.5 (165) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft)air drop,
weapons development
3.1 Mt [1] [10] [11]
16616 September 1962 10:59:10.5 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N51°36′E / 74.2°N 51.6°E / 74.2; 51.6 (166) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft)air drop,
weapons development
3.3 Mt [1] [10] [11]
unnumbered #518 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (unnumbered #5) 280 m (920 ft) + atmospheric, 10 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
16718 September 1962 08:29:02.7 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°12′N54°42′E / 73.2°N 54.7°E / 73.2; 54.7 (167) 0 + 2,000 m (6,600 ft)air drop,
weapons development
1.4 Mt [1] [10] [11]
16819 September 1962 11:00:56.4 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°48′N53°48′E / 73.8°N 53.8°E / 73.8; 53.8 (168) 0 + 3,280 m (10,760 ft)air drop,
weapons development
10 Mt [1] [5] [11] [15] [16]
16921 September 1962 08:00:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (169) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft)air drop,
weapons development
2.4 Mt [1] [6] [11]
17022 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°24′58″N77°44′24″E / 50.416°N 77.74°E / 50.416; 77.74 (170) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
210 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
17124 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (171) 280 m (920 ft) + 630 m (2,070 ft)air drop,
weapons development
1.2 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
17225 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°27′22″N77°46′23″E / 50.456°N 77.773°E / 50.456; 77.773 (172) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
7 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
17325 September 1962 13:02:31.7 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°42′N55°00′E / 73.7°N 55°E / 73.7; 55 (173) 0 + 4,090 m (13,420 ft)air drop,
weapons development
19.1 Mt [1] [5] [6] [11]
17427 September 1962 08:03:16.4 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°18′N52°24′E / 74.3°N 52.4°E / 74.3; 52.4 (174) 0 + 3,900 m (12,800 ft)air drop,
weapons development
20 Mt [1] [6] [10] [11]
17528 September 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (175) 280 m (920 ft) + 695 m (2,280 ft)air drop,
fundamental science
1.3 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1767 October 1962 16:32:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (176) 0 + 1,440 m (4,720 ft)air drop,
weapons development
320 kt [1] [6] [11] [17]
1779 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (177) 280 m (920 ft) + 645 m (2,116 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1789 October 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (178) 0 + 3,000 m (9,800 ft)air drop,
weapons development
15 kt [1] [11]
17910 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (179) 280 m (920 ft) + 665 m (2,182 ft)air drop,
weapons development
9.2 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
18013 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (180) 280 m (920 ft) + 720 m (2,360 ft)air drop,
weapons development
4.9 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
18114 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (181) 280 m (920 ft) + 725 m (2,379 ft)air drop,
weapons development
10 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
18220 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (182) 280 m (920 ft) + 635 m (2,083 ft)air drop,
weapons development
6.7 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
18322 October 1962 09:06:10.1 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°24′N54°54′E / 73.4°N 54.9°E / 73.4; 54.9 (183) 0 + 3,230 m (10,600 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8.2 Mt [1] [10] [11] [17]
18527 October 1962 07:35:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (185) 0 + 1,550 m (5,090 ft)air drop,
weapons development
260 kt [1] [5] [11] [17]
18628 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (186) 280 m (920 ft) + 670 m (2,200 ft)air drop,
weapons development
7.8 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
18828 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (188) 280 m (920 ft) + 645 m (2,116 ft)air drop,
weapons development
7.8 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
18929 October 1962 07:35:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (189) 0 + 1,550 m (5,090 ft)air drop,
weapons development
360 kt [1] [6] [11] [17]
19030 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (190) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
1.2 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
19130 October 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (191) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft)air drop,
weapons development
280 kt [1] [11]
19231 October 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (192) 280 m (920 ft) + 690 m (2,260 ft)air drop,
weapons development
10 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1941 November 1962 06:30:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (194) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft)air drop,
weapons development
240 kt [1] [5] [6] [11] [17]
1931 November 1962 09:20:?? ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (193) 280 m (920 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft)air drop,
weapons development
3 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
1973 November 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (197) 0 + 4,000 m (13,000 ft)air drop,
weapons development
45 kt [1] [11]
1983 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (198) 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft)air drop,
weapons development
4.7 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
1963 November 1962 08:31:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (196) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft)air drop,
weapons development
390 kt [1] [6] [11] [17]
1994 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (199) 280 m (920 ft) + 600 m (2,000 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8.4 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
2005 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°26′N77°50′E / 50.43°N 77.83°E / 50.43; 77.83 (200) 280 m (920 ft) + 15 m (49 ft)tower,
weapon effect
400 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20111 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50°24′58″N77°44′24″E / 50.416°N 77.74°E / 50.416; 77.74 (201) 280 m (920 ft) + 8 m (26 ft)tower,
weapons development
100 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20213 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (202) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
weapons development
1000 kg [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20314 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (203) 280 m (920 ft) + 660 m (2,170 ft)air drop,
weapons development
12 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20417 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (204) 280 m (920 ft) + 715 m (2,346 ft)air drop,
weapons development
18 kt [1] [5] [6] [7] [9]
20524 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (205) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
1000 kg [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20626 November 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (206) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
31 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
2071 December 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°24′N77°48′E / 50.4°N 77.8°E / 50.4; 77.8 (207) 280 m (920 ft) + 680 m (2,230 ft)air drop,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
20918 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (209) 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft)air drop,
fundamental science
69 kt [1] [11]
20818 December 1962 10:45:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (208) 0 + 1,600 m (5,200 ft)air drop,
weapons development
110 kt [1] [11] [17]
21020 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (210) 0 + 1,070 m (3,510 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8.3 kt [1] [11]
21122 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (211) 0 + 1,050 m (3,440 ft)air drop,
weapons development
6.3 kt [1] [11]
21323 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (213) 0 + 1,470 m (4,820 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8.3 kt [1] [11]
21423 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (214) 0 + 1,270 m (4,170 ft)air drop,
weapons development
2.4 kt [1] [11]
21523 December 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (215) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
less than 0.001 kt [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
21223 December 1962 11:15:?? MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (212) 0 + 1,460 m (4,790 ft)air drop,
weapons development
430 kt [1] [6] [11] [17]
21624 December 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (216) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
7 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
21724 December 1962ALMT (6 hrs)Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°22′41″N77°51′18″E / 50.378°N 77.855°E / 50.378; 77.855 (217) 280 m (920 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment
28 t [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]
21824 December 1962 10:44:21.9 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74°12′N52°18′E / 74.2°N 52.3°E / 74.2; 52.3 (218) 0 + 1,320 m (4,330 ft)air drop,
weapons development
1.1 Mt [1] [11] [17]
219 24 December 1962 11:11:42.0 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°36′N57°30′E / 73.6°N 57.5°E / 73.6; 57.5 (219) 0 + 3,750 m (12,300 ft)air drop,
weapons development
24.2 Mt [1] [6] [11] [17] Reduced yield test of 50 Mt weapon.
22025 December 1962 13:35:57.2 MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73°24′N56°30′E / 73.4°N 56.5°E / 73.4; 56.5 (220) 0 + 2,250 m (7,380 ft)air drop,
weapons development
3.1 Mt [1] [7] [11] [17]
22125 December 1962MSK (3 hrs)NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N55°E / 73°N 55°E / 73; 55 (221) 0 + 990 m (3,250 ft)air drop,
weapons development
8.5 kt [1] [7] [11] Last Soviet atmospheric test.
  1. The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
  2. To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.
  3. Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
  4. Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
  5. Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
  6. Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  7. Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.
  8. Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
  9. Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

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