'Two More High Tests To Come’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29871, 11 July 1962, Page 13

'Two More High Tests To Come ’

(tCZ. Press Association —Copyright)

HONOLULU, July 10

The United States will hold two more high-altitude nuclear tests above Johnston Island, but neither will be as powerful as Sunday night’s spectacular blast, according to sources quoted by the Associated Press today.

An Atomic Energy Commission official hinted that the two blasts would conclude the Pacific test series. The United States succeeded on Sunday night—after two failures—in detonating its biggest test show

Monitoring stations in Honolulu heard Johnston Island radio mention a “next event . . . which we can't talk about.” The A.E.C official hinted that the original schedule of “three and possibly four” tests at Johnston still stood. There was speculation after the two failures that the Johnston blasts might be limited to two or perhaps only one nuclear explosion. The original schedule called for one shot in the megaton range Sunday’s test —and two explosions of

less than the equivalent of 1.000.000 tons of T.N.T. One of these was to be at an altitude of “hundreds of kilometres.” That test could be higher than Sundav’s big explosion.

The official said he could see no reason why President Kennedy’s announced time limit of three months could not be extended “if it’s irt the national interest.” However. he said future tests hinged on what scientists learned from the first successful test.

The London “Daily Mail’s” New York correspondent wrote that this might be the first and last American high altitude test. “Three or four were planned, but if, as is believed, scientists found out all they wanted to know, no more will take place.” he said.