Tezos

Vela incident

Creator

tz1dhmUMLa3ZeVC3GJWfQty4VfgHdkd6xacQ

Description

On September 22 1979, a Vela satellite detected a double flash of light with the clear signature of an atmospheric nuclear explosion, over the Indian ocean near Prince Edwards islands. It was initially declared to be a low-yield South African nuclear test, but experts later have ascribed the test to Israel, given subsequent (indirect) evidence, the advanced status of the Israeli weapons program at the time, as well as the joint nuclear technology development between the two states. The (politically motivated) 1980 investigation by the Carter administration concluded that the evidence for a nuclear detonation recorded by Vela was inconclusive (nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB190/09.pdf). The inquiry however ignored corroborating acoustic, ionospheric and radionuclide evidence indicating the same time and location. . The Vela signature indicated a surface or atmospheric test of around 3 kilotons but the type of device and exact location are unknown - Israel at the time possessed both weapons grade enriched uranium and plutonium, after close collaboration with France on nuclear reactor and reprocessing infrastructure as well as sharing nuclear test data. . The Israeli program was probably ready with two crude weapons by the six-day war in 1967. From 1968, Israel began to manufacture several bombs per year. Israel has continued stockpiling weapons, and is believed to possess tactical fission as well as thermonuclear devices. This capacity is the major factor behind the continuing attempts by neighbouring states at nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, with the obvious and pertinent risk of escalation to a global nuclear conflict. . Israel has not acknowledged carrying out nuclear tests, nor does it acknowledge having a nuclear capacity, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It is estimated to possess at least 90 nuclear warheads. . Special "Test Anniversary" airdrop, in support of nuclear disarmament: donate to https://cnduk.org/ . The original pen plot was made using Stabilo pen and AxiDraw SE/A3, on 180g Bristol paper.

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