Nuclear Explosion Detection Satellites

A nuclear detonation detection system ndds is a device or a series of devices that are able to tell when a nuclear explosion has occurred as well as the direction of the explosion.

Nuclear explosion detection satellites. In 1963 a treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere in outer space and underwater was signed. Satellite detected the telltale signs of a nuclear explosion. The main purpose of these devices or systems was to verify compliance of countries that signed nuclear treaties such as the partial test ban treaty of 1963 ptbt and the treaty of tlatelolco. Twelve satellites were built six of the vela hotel design and six of the advanced vela design.

The information is transmitted to the ground at the l3 frequency of 1381 05 mhz employing spread spectrum modulation similar to that used in the. In 1960 at the height of the cold war and at the dawn of the space age the first missile defense alarm system midas satellite was launched into low earth orbit. Warning system warning system detection of nuclear explosions. Six years later there was a.

The vela hotel series was to detect nuclear tests in space while the advanced vela series was to detect not only nuclear explosions in space but also in the atmosphere. An analysis of the evidence today points to a clandestine nuclear test a carter administration cover up and. The nds consists of a suite of sensors that detect electromagnetic signals over a number of frequency bands. 40 years ago a u s.

The trinity test the world s first atomic bomb explosion was atmospheric exploding 30 meters above the new mexico desert on july 16 1945. A direct consequence was the development and construction of a wide variety of devices to monitor nuclear explosions. Capability to both monitor compliance with treaties such as the limited test ban treaty and the threshold test ban treaty and to support the nuclear warfighting mission nnsa s defense nuclear nonproliferation research and development dnn r d program and its predecessors along with other government partners have been providing this. Each signatory nation was to provide monitoring.

Space based nuclear explosion sensors are a vital u s. All spacecraft were manufactured by trw and launched in pairs either on an atlas agena or titan iii c boosters.