1966–70 French nuclear tests

See also: List of nuclear weapons tests of France
1966–1970
Information
CountryFrance
Test siteColette zone, Moruroa Atoll; Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP)
Period1966–1970
Number of tests22
Test typeair drop, balloon, barge, dry surface
Max. yield2.6 megatonnes of TNT (11 PJ)
Test series chronology

The France's 1966–1970 nuclear test series was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted in 1966–1970. These tests followed the In Ekker series and preceded the 1971–1974 French nuclear tests series.

France's 1966–1970 series tests and detonations
Name Date time (UT) Local time zone Location Elevation + height Delivery,
Purpose 		Device Yield Fallout References Notes
Aldébaran 2 July 1966 15:34:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′07″S 139°00′07″W / 21.868611°S 139.001944°W / -21.868611; -139.001944 (Aldébaran) −35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft) barge,
weapons development 		AN-52 28 kt An experimental tactical weapon. Fired on the third try.
Tamouré 19 July 1966 15:05:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): 85 km E 21°44′37″S 138°00′08″W / 21.743649°S 138.002247°W / -21.743649; -138.002247 (Tamouré) 5 m (16 ft) + 1,000 m (3,300 ft) air drop,
weapons development 		AN-11 50 kt Dropped by a Mirage IV jet (Mirage IV A sn 9), France's first dropped tests.
Ganymède 21 July 1966 12:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Colette zone, Moruroa Atoll: Colette ~ 21°46′51″S 138°54′13″W / 21.780835°S 138.903544°W / -21.780835; -138.903544 (Ganymède) 5 m (16 ft) + 12 m (39 ft) dry surface,
safety experiment 		AN-22 no yield
Bételgeuse 11 September 1966 17:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°47′30″S 138°53′33″W / 21.791667°S 138.892500°W / -21.791667; -138.892500 (Bételguese) 5 m (16 ft) + 470 m (1,540 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		MR-31 110 kt Contrary to popular belief, the radiological fallout moved to the northeast without causing radioactive contamination of the civilian population.
Rigel 24 September 1966 17:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′24″S 138°43′22″W / 22.240001°S 138.722784°W / -22.240001; -138.722784 (Rigel) −35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft) barge,
weapons development 		125 kt Boosted fission device.
Sirius 4 October 1966 21:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°52′18″S 139°00′12″W / 21.871667°S 139.003333°W / -21.871667; -139.003333 (Sirus) −35 m (−115 ft) + 10 m (33 ft) barge,
weapons development 		205 kt
Altair 5 June 1967 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′20″S 138°53′42″W / 21.789°S 138.895°W / -21.789; -138.895 (Altair) 5 m (16 ft) + 295 m (968 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		15 kt
Antarès 27 June 1967 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°51′54″S 139°00′00″W / 21.865°S 139°W / -21.865; -139 (Antarès) 5 m (16 ft) + 340 m (1,120 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		120 kt
Arcturus 2 July 1967 17:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise 21°47′11″S 138°53′33″W / 21.786389°S 138.892500°W / -21.786389; -138.892500 (Arcturus) −35 m (−115 ft) + 3 m (9.8 ft) barge,
weapons development 		22 kt Intended for a balloon, instead detonated at ground level, resulting in severe downwind fallout.
Capella 7 July 1968 22:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Capella) 5 m (16 ft) + 463 m (1,519 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		115 kt
Castor 15 July 1968 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Castor) 5 m (16 ft) + 650 m (2,130 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		MR-41 450 kt
Pollux 3 August 1968 21:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pollux) 5 m (16 ft) + 490 m (1,610 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		MR-41 150 kt
Canopus 24 August 1968 18:30:00.5 TAHT (–10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′36″S 138°43′30″W / 22.243336°S 138.725009°W / -22.243336; -138.725009 (Canopus) 5 m (16 ft) + 520 m (1,710 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		2.6 Mt First French thermonuclear detonation. It contaminated Fangataufa so highly that it lay unused for the next six years.
Procyon 8 September 1968 19:00:01 TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°49′16″S 138°58′30″W / 21.821°S 138.975°W / -21.821; -138.975 (Procyon) 5 m (16 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		1.3 Mt
Andromède 15 May 1970 18:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Andromède) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		13 kt
Cassiopée 22 May 1970 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Cassiopée) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		TN-60 224 kt
Dragon 30 May 1970 17:59:59.9 TAHT (–10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′21″S 138°43′26″W / 22.239176°S 138.723889°W / -22.239176; -138.723889 (Dragon) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		945 kt
Eridan 24 June 1970 18:30:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Eridan) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		12 kt
Licorne 3 July 1970 18:30:00.3 TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon 21°48′29″S 138°55′02″W / 21.80802°S 138.91727°W / -21.80802; -138.91727 (Licorne) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		TN-60 914 kt Six hours after the test, French Defense Minister Michel Debré swam in the lagoon as a PR ploy.
Pégase 27 July 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Denise zone, Moruroa Atoll: Denise ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Pégase) 5 m (16 ft) + 220 m (720 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		50 t
Orion 2 August 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Fregate Zone, Fangataufa Atoll: Fregate 22°14′02″S 138°43′01″W / 22.233889°S 138.716944°W / -22.233889; -138.716944 (Orion) 5 m (16 ft) + 400 m (1,300 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		72 kt
Toucan 6 August 1970 19:00:?? TAHT (–10 hr)
 Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Dindon ~ 21°50′S 138°53′W / 21.83°S 138.88°W / -21.83; -138.88 (Toucan) 5 m (16 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) balloon,
weapons development 		594 kt
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