HIGH ALTITUDE TESTS

Non-exhaustive list of high altitude explosive tests whose debris may have exceeded the Earth’s escape velocity and reached heliocentric orbit.

19 tests have been identified.

COSPAR IDname typemissionquantity (initially)statusdate/epoch (UTC)
NONESHAPED CHARGES (3 DETONATED), 85 KM ALT.Shrapnel?ARTIFICIAL METEOR??October 16, 1957
NONE1.7 KT/26.2 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?HARDTRACK I - YUCCA??April 28, 1958
NONE3.8 MT/76.8 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?HARDTRACK I - TEAK??August 1, 1958
NONE3.8 MT/34 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?HARDTRACK I - ORANGE??August 12, 1958
NONE1.7 KT/200 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?ARGUS I??August 27, 1958
NONE1.7 KT/240 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?ARGUS II??August 30, 1958
NONE1.7 KT/540 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?ARGUS III??September 6, 1958
NONE10.5 KT/22.7 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.88 - GROZA (JOE 79)??September 6, 1961
NONE40 KT/41.3 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.115 - GROM (JOE 98)??October 6, 1961
NONE1.2 KT/150 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.127 - K PROJECT K2 (JOE 109)??October 27, 1961
NONE1.2 KT/300 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.128 - K PROJECT K1 (JOE 105)??October 27, 1961
NONE1.4 MT/400 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?DOMINIC (FISHBOWL) - STAR FISH PRIME??July 9, 1962
NONE7 KT/147 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?DOMINIC (FISHBOWL) - CHECKMATE??October 20, 1962
NONE300 KT/290 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.184 - K PROJECT K3 (JOE 157)??October 22, 1962
NONE410 KT/50 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?DOMINIC (FISHBOWL) - BLUEGILL TRIPLE PRIME??October 26, 1962
NONE300 KT/150 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.187 - K PROJECT K4 (JOE 160)??October 28, 1962
NONE300 KT/59 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?TEST NO.195 - K PROJECT K5 (JOE 168)??November 1, 1962
NONE410 KT/97 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?DOMINIC (FISHBOWL) - KINGFISH??November 1, 1962
NONE5 KT/21 KM ALT. NUCLEAR BOMB EXPLOSION TESTShrapnel?DOMINIC (FISHBOWL) - TIGHTROPE??November 3, 1962