Operation Argus

Operation Argus was secretly conducted during August and September of 1958, in the South Atlantic[?] (see: South Atlantic Anomaly), by the US Atomic Energy Commission, in conjunction with the Explorer IV mission. About 1800 km southwest of Cape Town, South Africa the USS Norton Sound AVM-1[?], of Top Secret Task Force 88[?], launched three modified X-17a missiles[?] armed with 1.7 kt W-25[?] nuclear warheads into the upper atmosphere, in order to conduct tests regarding the magnetosphere and the Van Allen radiation belts. The tests were proposed by Nicholas Christofilos[?] of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL)[?] as a means to determine the possibility of creating artificial radiation belts for military purposes.

The Argus explosions created artificial electron belts resulting from the β-decay of fission fragments. These lasted for several weeks. Such radiation belts affect radio and radar transmissions, damage or destroy arming and fusing mechanisms of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile[?] warheads, and endanger crews of orbiting space vehicles[?].

The tests were first reported by the New York Times on March 19, 1959. More than 4,500 people participated in the operation. Followed the Hardtack I[?] series, but preceded Hardtack II[?]

Argus Missile Launches

• Argus I
  • Time: 02:28 August 27, 1958 (GMT)
  • Location: 38.5° South, 11.5° West
  • Altitude: 160 km

• Argus II
  • Time: 03:18 August 30, 1958 (GMT)
  • Location: 49.5 deg South, 8.2 deg West
  • Altitude: 182 Miles

• Argus III
  • Time: 22:13 September 6, 1958 (GMT)
  • Location: 48.5 deg South, 9.7 deg West
  • Altitude: 466 Miles

See also: Operation Hardtack I[?]