Nucleaire

1958 · réf. 76552 — Cape Canaveral: N.p. 1958-1973. This was the personal archive of missile installation foreman Joseph H. Lendle and the majority of it relates to Operation Hardtack I Project 9.31a. Project 9.3a was a series of U.S. nuclear tests conducted in 1958. Specifically Project 9.3a was responsible for the preparation and launch of two Redstone missiles carrying nuclear warheads for high-altitude detonations known as Shots Teak and Orange. These tests were part of Operation Newsreel a subset of Hardtack I focusing on high-altitude nuclear explosions and EMPs.The primary goal of Project 9.3a was to study the effects of nuclear detonations at high altitudes including their impact on communications electromagnetic pulse EMP generation and atmospheric phenomena. The Redstone missiles were modified to carry nuclear devices to altitudes of approximately 76.8 kilometers 47.7 miles. Each missile was also equipped with instrumented pods designed to collect data on pressures thermal and gamma radiation neutron flux and EMP effects. Both missiles were launched from the Johnston Atoll in the Pacific. Shot Teak was a failure and exploded directly over the Johnston Atoll but Shot Orange was an unqualified success. Despite Shot Teak's high-altitude detonation at 252000 feet the explosion was visible from Hawaii with observers reporting an aurora-like effect and a red shell that appeared to pass overhead. The EMP caused a temporary blackouts in Australia and Hawaii.The archive consists of includes 2 black and white snapshots of operations crew and the missile both 5 x 7” 3 certificates honoring the participation of Joseph Frank Lendle 1921-2017 lead foreman of Operation Hardtack 2 typed letters signed to Lendle both signed by Kurt H. Debus Director Missile Firing Lab a birthday card from the Launch Operations Directorate a 2 pp. press release for The Florida Times-Union 3 printed memos 5 printed letters with facsimile signatures congratulating Operation Hardtack personnel for their excellent work including one from Dr. Werner van Braun. Sheets generally toned and with staple holes at upper left corners but generally quite nice. One "Certificate of Participation" has a two inch tear and three holes at the upper blank margin where pushpins once held to to a wall. Also included is a later plaque 1975 honoring Lendle’s contribution to the NASA rocket programs listing the launches that he participated in. He participated in 129 launches including those of Redstone Juniper "C' Jupiter Redstone-Mercury Juno Saturn Apollo and Skylab. Lendle worked in the space program for nearly 28 years after his military service in WWII. N.p. unknown