Atmospheric Nuclear Testing

Historical monochrome and color photographs of nuclear detonations and fireballs from various tests at the Nevada Test Site, depicting explosive events.

Vintage Photograph. ATOMIC FIREBALL BIKINI 5 5 60 a c 12 000 FEET. Explosive power of a nuclear explosion captured in a dramatic mushroom cloud image.
Vintage Photograph. ATOMIC FIREBALL BIKINI 5 5 60 a c 12 000 FEET. Explosive power of a nuclear explosion captured in a dramatic mushroom cloud image.
123 assets in this story
6145-54410040
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. STOKES cloud, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410206
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. GRABLE: series of 6 ground view photos showing fireball and cloud (2 of 6). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410081
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA fireball & cloud: Series of 9 ground views (8 of 9). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410647
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55924164
Project 40-11 - Operation Buster/Jangle (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. EASY cloud, aerial view (2 of 3). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410646
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410211
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. GRABLE fireball/cloud, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-52082934
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. HOOD detonation: Series of 7 fireball & cloud, ground views (5 of 7). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4186-70019143
Vintage Photograph. ATOMIC FIREBALL BIKINI 5 5 60 a c 12 000 FEET. Explosive power of a nuclear explosion captured in a dramatic mushroom cloud image.
6145-54410023
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA fireball & cloud: Series of 9 ground views (9 of 9). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410143
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA detonation: Series of 8 fireball & cloud, ground views (6 of 8). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410730
Project 21 - Operation Ivy (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mike Cloud, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410208
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. GRABLE: series of 6 ground view photos showing fireball and cloud (3 of 6). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410654
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410060
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA cloud: Series of 8 ground views (5 of 8). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410084
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA detonation: Series of 8 fireball & cloud, ground views (8 of 8). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410532
Project 40-11 - Operation Buster/Jangle (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. EASY cloud, aerial view (1 of 3). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410640
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Erie Fireball, Aerial, Shockwave on Water, Wilson Cloud. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4048-10928
The DAKOTA Shot, was a 1.1 megaton hydrogen bomb. Enewetak Atoll on June 25, 1956.
5513-111409874
Atomic Fury -- The awesome violence of an atomic explosion is fully depicted in this picture of today's blast a moment after the AEC detonated an atomic "Device" at the top of a 300-foot steel tower. AP photographer Hal Filan made this picture with a 28-inch lens from news nob, seven miles away. March 17, 1953. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
255-2099
Mushroom cloud formed by an atomic bomb explosion
1899-19308055
Yucca Flats, Nevada, 1957 - Atomic Bomb explosion fireball, Camp Mercury
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The RDS-6s device, the first Soviet test of a thermonuclear weapon (called Joe 4) on August 12, 1953 / Anonymous / Photograph / 1953 / Russia / © The Lebedev Physics Institute (FIAN), Moscow / History
463-6149
Mushroom cloud formed by atomic bomb explosion, Nagasaki, Japan, August 9, 1945
6145-54410685
Project 22 - Operation Castle (Bikini/Enewetak) Detonation. Romeo Cloud, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410102
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. HOOD fireball/cloud, aerial view (2 of 2). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4266-21633651
The Soviet Union's first nuclear test at Semipalatinsk on August 29, 1949, Anonymous
6145-54410257
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. SIMON fireball, aerial view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55172919
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
201-261
Atomic bomb testing in the desert
6145-55172917
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55172853
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (11 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410544
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. WAHOO detonation from Mut Island. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4048-10985
The HARRY shot was a 32 kiloton nuclear blast was detonated on a 300 foot tower. Later known as 'Dirty Harry', because it produced the highest amount of radioactive fallout of any continental US test, contaminating St. George, Utah. May 19, 1953.
6145-54410642
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Mohawk Fireball, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4186-3098
1950S Atomic Bomb Explosion Mushroom Cloud
4048-10929
The APACHE Shot, was a 1.85 megaton hydrogen bomb. Enewetak Atoll on July 8, 1956.
6145-54410205
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. GRABLE: series of 6 ground view photos showing fireball and cloud (1 of 6). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
1746-21126690
Photographic print of an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll in Micronesia, the first underwater test. Dated 1946
6145-54410134
Project 30-35 - Operation Teapot (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. POST cloud, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410097
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. HOOD detonation: Series of 10 aerial fireball views (4 of 10). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-52282397
Lesson / information material from the NBCD school: cloud phenomena at an above-ground nuclear explosion.
5513-111810628
Atom Blast Churns Earth -- A second after an atomic device, more than 1½ times as powerful as the bombs which devastated Hiroshima and Nagaski, was detonated atop a 500-foot tower at dawn today, this churning fireball tore at the earth and sucked up clouds of dirt from the desert floor. An atomic blast. May 05, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
6145-54410243
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. SIMON fireball and cloud,g round view, yucca in foreground, series of 5 photos (2 of 5). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
5513-111409900
"Operation Teapot" -- The first shot of "Operation Teapot", the Spring 1955 Series of nuclear tests at Nevada Test Site, looked like this shortly after detonation at noon today. The nuclear cloud is forming from the fireball while the stem is sucked up toward the cloud. February 18, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
255-28440
Able Day nuclear test detonation, Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, July 1, 1946
6145-54410105
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. STOKES fireball, aerial view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6177-V53851452
6145-54410061
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. SMOKY fireball, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6176-66917108
An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
4048-10974
Mushroom cloud of the Trinity test, the first manmade nuclear explosion. A plutonium bomb resulting in a blast equivalent to that of 19,000 tons of dynamite exploded on July 16, 1945 in New Mexico.
6145-54410539
Project 30-107H & 1 - Little Feller I & II (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. LITTLE FELLER II, ground view, H+10, Project 1.1 instrumented balloon to left of cloud top. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4048-10937
Radioactive leak from the Baneberry underground nuclear test. Nevada Test Site workers were exposed to radiation when the 10 kiloton bomb detonated 900 feet underground cracked the soil, causing a fissure near ground zero. Dec. 18, 1970.
6145-52736822
An 1872 albumin stereo photograph capturing Mount Vesuvius erupting at 4:30 p.m., showing lava, smoke, and the surrounding landscape.
6145-54410645
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Osage Cloud, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410502
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (15 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410687
Project 22 - Operation Castle (Bikini/Enewetak) Detonation. Bravo Fireball from USS Estes. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55172849
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (8 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54409988
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. WHITNEY fireball/cloud, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410111
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. JOHN cloud. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55172881
Project 30-110 - Event Sedan (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. SEDAN detonation. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410272
Project 30-18 - Operation Upshot/Knothole (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. HARRY detonation and fireball: series of 5 aerial photos (2 of 5). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
1848-49227207
The eruption of the volcano Vesuvius on 26 April 1872, 3.30 a.m., Naples, Italy, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of a photo by Giorgio Sommer, coloured, Europe
4409-50134436
01/14/2014. Takeoff and Explosion of the Challenger Sts-51l 01/28/1986 Archdc.
6145-54368801
Volcanoes - After Mount St. Helens Eruption - Washington. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History
6145-55172842
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (7 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-44640142
The STS-31 crew launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990 at 8 33 51am (EDT). Included in the crew of five were Loren J. Shriver, commander; Charles F. Bolden, pilot; and Steven A. Hawley, Bruce McCandless, and Kathryn D. Sullivan, all mission specialists. The primary goal of the mission was the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) which was a Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) managed program.
5513-111840413
Mightiest Non-A-Bomb Blast -- Bits of rock and clouds of dust geyser upward as 320,000 lbs. of TNT explode in sandstone cliff at Buckhorn Wash near Castle Dale, Utal Photo snapped 5½ air miles away from scene. July 8, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
6145-55172846
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (4 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410464
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. HOLLY fireball, from Enewetak Island. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
1848-49276626
The eruption of Vesuvius, 26 April 1872, Naples, Italy, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of a photograph by Giorgio Sommer, coloured, Europe
6145-54410454
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (63 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
5513-66634275
New Vulcan, the crater which appeared from the sea with terrifying suddenness within a day, in full eruption. Smoke and ***** were shot up in a huge column. The arrow points motor-ship Desokoko, cowering under the menace of ***** eruption. The Desokoko was harbor-bound for some time, but finally broke through to the open sea past the belching craters. June 7, 1937.
6145-55172868
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (27 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410057
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. PRISCILLA cloud: Series of 8 ground views (3 of 8). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
1746-29970109
Black and white photograph of World War II (1939-1945) showing the detonation of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.
6145-55172847
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (6 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55172841
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. WAHOO detonation: series of 27 photos, aerial view of burst & base surge (1 of 27). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410284
Project 30-7 - Operation Tumbler/Snapper (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. DOG fireball/cloud aerial view (1 of 3). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-55942096
Giant Geyser, during eruption. 1885 - 1890. text. Photographs, Landscape photographs. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection. Yellowstone National Park
6145-54409996
Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Detonation. CHARLESTON cloud, ground view. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
1574R-04919
Vertical launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC), US Armed Forces
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A hot jet research facility, used extensively in the design and development of the reentry heat shield on the Project Mercury spacecraft. The electrically-heated arc jet simulates the friction heating encountered by a space vehicle as it returns to the earth's atmosphere at high velocities. The arc jet was located in Langley's Structures Research Laboratory. It was capable of heating the air stream to about 9,000 degrees F. -- Published in Taken from an October 5, 1961 press release entitled: Hot Jet Research Facility used in Reentry Studies will be demonstrated at NASA Open House, October 7.
4450R-21443020
Smoke trail from amateur rocket shooting into sky, Black Rock Desert, Nevada
4128R-11290865
Artwork of an asteroid hitting earth.
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The Volcania munitions...
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This is an artist's concept of the young Earth being bombarded by asteroids. Scientists think these impacts could have delivered significant amounts of organic matter and water to Earth.
4409-50066668
1934. Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. Little America Base: During the polar night, magnesium torches were used to chase away shadows.
4409-50134435
01/14/2014. Takeoff and Explosion of the Challenger Sts-51l 01/28/1986 Archdc.
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2507 Cratere del Vesuvio Aprile 1888.; Crater Van Den Vesuvius. A smoking VESUVIUS volcano.
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Service eruption of Vesuvius in April 4. 1906.
6145-54410641
Project 23 - Redwing (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. Seminole Fireball & Ejecta, Aerial View (3 of 3). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-54410729
Project 21 - Operation Ivy (Enewetak/Bikini) Detonation. King Cloud, Aerial View. Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
4220-21838931
Contactee Daniel Fry photographed this spinning UFO at Joshua Tree, California 4 of 5 Date: 1965
6145-52770989
Photograph showing the Maul photographic rocket apparatus with rocket in mid-shot, on silver gelatin paper mounted on a box, dated 1904.
1035-63121471
United States c. 1955A seismograph crew creates a miniature earthquake for the Phillips Petroleum Company, and by reading the explosion's echoes from underground rocks, they hope to find a likely area to drill for oil and gas.
6145-55847832
Pedro Miguel/Locks - Smoke Screen Tests, Aerial Photograph.
6145-50606548
A861307 U12T MIGHTY OAK ROSES REENTRY NELSON (Project Engineer) NOV 13 1986 EG&G/NTS PHOTO LAB Publication Date: 11/13/1986 DAMAGED; DEBRIS; DESTROYED; EDGERTON, GERMESHAUSEN & GRIER; EG&G; EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT; MIGHTY OAK TEST; NELSON, PALMER; NEVADA; NEVADA TEST SITE; NTS; NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY; NUCLEAR TESTING; NUCLEAR TESTS; REENTRY PHOTOS; ROSES DAMAGE; ROSES REENTRY; TEST SITES; U12T; U12T MIGHTY OAK; UGT; UNDERGROUND; UNDERGROUND TESTING; WEAPONS EFFECTS; WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY historical images. 1972 - 2012. Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration. Photographs Related to Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site.
6145-55172850
Project 24 - Operation Hardtack (Enewetak/Bikini/Johnnston Island Area) Detonation. UMBRELLA detonation; series of 71 photos from Ikuren Island of burst and base surge (3 of 71). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.
6145-52083395
An aerial view of the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command, as a rocket is launched during a test. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)