Artificial radiation belts are radiation belts that have been created by high-altitude nuclear explosions.
+ List of Artificial Radiation Belts Explosion Location Date Yield (approximate) Altitude (km) Nation of Origin Hardtack Teak Johnston Island (Pacific) 1958-08-01 3.8 megatons 76.8 United States Hardtack Orange Johnston Island (Pacific) 1958-08-12 3.8 megatons 43 United States Argus I South Atlantic 1958-08-27 1-2 kilotons 200 United States Argus II South Atlantic 1958-08-30 1-2 kilotons 256 United States Argus III South Atlantic 1958-09-06 1-2 kilotons 539 United States Starfish Prime Johnston Island (Pacific) 1962-07-09 1.4 megatons 400 United States K-3 Kazakhstan 1962-10-22 300 kilotons 290 USSR K-4 Kazakhstan 1962-10-28 300 kilotons 150 USSR K-5 Kazakhstan 1962-11-01 300 kilotons 59 USSR
The table above lists those high-altitude nuclear explosions for which a reference exists in the unclassified English-language scientific literature to persistent artificial radiation belts resulting from the explosion. Of these, the Starfish Prime radiation belt had, by far, the greatest intensity and duration of any of the artificial radiation belts. Within several months of the Starfish detonation, many satellites were rendered nonfunctional. These included the Ariel 1, TRAAC, Transit 4B, Injun I and Telstar 1, and Kosmos 5 satellites. Telstar I lasted the longest of the satellites damaged by the Starfish Prime radiation, with its complete failure occurring on February 21, 1963.
In Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory report LA-6405, Herman Hoerlin gave the following explanation of the history of the original Argus experiment and of how the nuclear detonations led to the development of artificial radiation belts:
In 2010, the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency issued a report that had been written in support of the United States Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. The report, entitled "Collateral Damage to Satellites from an EMP Attack," discusses in great detail the historical events that caused artificial radiation belts and their effects on many satellites that were then in orbit. The same report also projects the effects of one or more present-day high-altitude nuclear explosions upon the formation of artificial radiation belts and the probable resulting effects on satellites that are currently in orbit.
See also Christofilos effect Outer Space Treaty Operation Fishbowl Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Lists of environmental topics Nicholas Christofilos
References
External links Wm. Robert Johnston. High-altitude nuclear explosions