1986–88 French nuclear tests

1986–1988
Information
CountryFrance
Test siteLagoon Area 2, Fangataufa Atoll; Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll; Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll
Period1986–1988
Number of tests24
Test typeunderground shaft
Max. yield103 kilotonnes of TNT (430 TJ)
Test series chronology

The 1986–1988 French nuclear tests were a group of 24 nuclear tests conducted between 1986 and 1988. These tests followed the 1983–1985 French nuclear tests series and preceded the 1989–1991 French nuclear tests series.

France's 1986–1988 series tests and detonations
Name Date time (UT) Local time zone Location Elevation + height Delivery,
Purpose
Device Yield Fallout References Notes
Hyllos 26 April 1986 17:02:00.7 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Therese3 21°52′33″S 138°51′02″W / 21.87593°S 138.85063°W / -21.87593; -138.85063 (Hyllos) 5 m (16 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Céto 6 May 1986 16:58:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Fuschia5 21°52′20″S 138°55′45″W / 21.872185°S 138.9293°W / -21.872185; -138.9293 (Céto) 5 m (16 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Sthénélos 27 May 1986 17:15:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Ursula1 21°52′13″S 138°52′51″W / 21.87027°S 138.88091°W / -21.87027; -138.88091 (Sthénélos) 5 m (16 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Galatée 30 May 1986 17:25:00.1 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Hippocampe2 ~ 21°52′03″S 138°57′02″W / 21.86742°S 138.95046°W / -21.86742; -138.95046 (Galatée) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
30 kt
Hésione 10 November 1986 16:58:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Yvonne4 21°52′00″S 138°54′50″W / 21.86664°S 138.91395°W / -21.86664; -138.91395 (Hésione) 5 m (16 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Nauplios 12 November 1986 17:02:00.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Hippocampe3 ~ 21°51′51″S 138°57′02″W / 21.86427°S 138.95046°W / -21.86427; -138.95046 (Nauplios) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Pénéléos 6 December 1986 17:10:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Fuschia6 21°52′16″S 138°55′43″W / 21.871°S 138.92852°W / -21.871; -138.92852 (Pénéléos) 5 m (16 ft) + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Circé 10 December 1986 17:15:00.2 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Labre2 ~ 21°50′58″S 138°54′46″W / 21.84944°S 138.91277°W / -21.84944; -138.91277 (Circé) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
32 kt
Jocaste 5 May 1987 16:58:01.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Requin4 ~ 21°50′37″S 138°50′46″W / 21.84369°S 138.846°W / -21.84369; -138.846 (Jocaste) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Lycomède 20 May 1987 17:05:00.1 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Isurus2 ~ 21°51′43″S 138°56′24″W / 21.86193°S 138.94008°W / -21.86193; -138.94008 (Lycomède) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
30 kt
Dircé 6 June 1987 18:00:00.7 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Pieurve3 ~ 21°50′20″S 138°52′31″W / 21.8389°S 138.87541°W / -21.8389; -138.87541 (Dircé) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Iphpitos 21 June 1987 17:55:00.1 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Krill5 ~ 21°50′49″S 138°55′20″W / 21.84702°S 138.92235°W / -21.84702; -138.92235 (Iphpitos) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Hélénos 23 October 1987 16:50:00.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Krill6 ~ 21°50′36″S 138°55′20″W / 21.84338°S 138.92235°W / -21.84338; -138.92235 (Hélénos) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
51 kt
Pasiphaé 5 November 1987 17:30:00.4 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Murene2 ~ 21°50′57″S 138°54′12″W / 21.84917°S 138.90334°W / -21.84917; -138.90334 (Pasiphaé) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
18 kt
Pelée 19 November 1987 16:31:00.2 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Hippocampe4 ~ 21°51′42″S 138°57′02″W / 21.86158°S 138.95046°W / -21.86158; -138.95046 (Pelée) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
62 kt
Danaé 29 November 1987 17:59:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Requin6 ~ 21°48′S 138°54′W / 21.8°S 138.9°W / -21.8; -138.9 (Danaé) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Nelée 11 May 1988 17:00:00.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Hippocampe5 ~ 21°51′31″S 138°57′02″W / 21.85854°S 138.95046°W / -21.85854; -138.95046 (Nelée) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Niobé 25 May 1988 17:01:00.1 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Flet1 21°52′08″S 138°58′05″W / 21.86894°S 138.96794°W / -21.86894; -138.96794 (Niobé) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
80 kt
Antigone 16 June 1988 17:15:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Nerite4 ~ 21°50′55″S 138°53′39″W / 21.84857°S 138.89405°W / -21.84857; -138.89405 (Antigone) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt
Dejanire 23 June 1988 17:31:00.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Krill4 ~ 21°51′05″S 138°55′20″W / 21.85138°S 138.92235°W / -21.85138; -138.92235 (Dejanire) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Acrisios 25 October 1988 17:00:00 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll: Pieuvre4 ~ 21°50′05″S 138°52′31″W / 21.83464°S 138.87541°W / -21.83464; -138.87541 (Acrisios) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
2 kt
Thrasymèdes 5 November 1988 16:30:00.4 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll ~ 21°52′28″S 138°58′43″W / 21.87436°S 138.97854°W / -21.87436; -138.97854 (Thrasymèdes) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
47 kt
Phéres 23 November 1988 17:01:00.3 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon, Areas 5–7, Moruroa Atoll ~ 21°52′28″S 138°58′05″W / 21.87436°S 138.968°W / -21.87436; -138.968 (Phéres) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
45 kt
Cycnos 30 November 1988 17:55:00.0 TAHT (–10 hrs)
Lagoon Area 2, Fangataufa Atoll 22°13′59″S 138°44′24″W / 22.233°S 138.74°W / -22.233; -138.74 (Cycnos) 0 + underground shaft,
weapons development
103 kt