Evening star., 1953-04-06

Changing Potent Low. Poqe AS
~>~>
a sharp crack reminiscent of the
Misunderstanding early atomic
tests, but there were no reports
of damage today.
The bomb was exploded at an
altitude of more than 5000 feet,
the Atomic Energy Commission
announced afterward. This is
considerably higher than usual
air drops, either here or at the
testing ground of
Area Closed to Air Traffic.
The size of the cloud, which
boiled up within three minutes.
and the force of the shock felt
here gave indication that it's
power may have been greater
than normal, or that the height
OF the explosion increased it's
effect.
This was borne out when the
Civil AeronauticS Administration
ordered a vast area of about 10O,-
600 square miles-bounded by
Las Vegas Yuma and Nogales,
Arlz., and Albuquerque, N. Mex.
to air traffic above "a
600 feet for six hours after the
blast.
The jet drones, each carrying
90 mice and two monkeys, pene-
trated the cloud at 10000 feet
and landed at Indian Springs Air
Base 20 minutes after the blast,
the Acc announced. It had no
immediate statement on the con-
dltlon OF the animals. Two Jet
fighters were set to. shoot down
the droneS if they went out of
control.
Blast Is Fourth in Series.
Mice and Monkeys have been
used in previous tests here this
year. but results of tests with
them have not been made public.
The Air Force said earlier that
as many as "a planes would be
in the air attthe same time dur.
ing one of this springs tests.
But it put the figure at 50 after
this mornings blast, triggered at
1880 am. (10:30 am. EST
Among theme were 12 piant RAT
jet bombers.
1t was the fourth of the spring
series and the first set off in day.
light. 1t also was the first plane
drop. The other three were set
OIL from 300-foot steel towers.
Twenty-three automobiles, part
OF a group of 60 tested in the
first blast. March II, were
ranged across the proving ground
many of them parked to
simulate a parking lot in a
downtown area.
Highway Traffic Halted,
The Acc closed off travel on
U. S. Highway 95, which skirts
the southern end of the proving
gorund, for several minutes be-
fore the blast. Traffic was
halted at Indian Springs and at
Beatty, New. to eliminate the
possibility of accidents caused
by temporary blindness, the Acc
said.
The mice and monkeys were
carried in QF-80 drones, moth
cred by a pair of DT-S3s which
guided them to the blast site
and later landed them. For
their trip through the cloud, the
drones. were controlled by ground
radar. \
Meanwhile, all 531 members
Of Congress have been invited by
Representative Cole, Republican,
of New York, to witness one of
the remaining tests in the cur
rent series to help them in
"evaluating the national defense
problems"
He told them in effect they
had security clearance to watch
only "less sensitive" experiments.
The offer was made by Rep
resentative Cole, newly elected
chairman of the joint Senate
House Atomic Energy Commit
tee, in a letter to each Senator
ana Representative. An attached
note from Acc Chairman Cor
don Dean approved the plan.
Mr.. Cole said the members Of
Congress could choose one of
four dates-April Is, May 2, May
z and May 21-for a two-day
trip to Nevada. apparently by
transportation.