BLAST OVERPRESSURE FROM VERY-HIGH-ALTITUDE BURSTS.

The objective was the measurement of time of arrival, peak overpressure, and pressure versus time at five balloon-borne canisters suspended at various distances below a low yield device Shot Yucca detonated at a very-high altitude. In order to circumvent telemetry blackout, the pressure data was to be stored on internal recorders and then played back into the telemeter transmitters, as well as telemetered directly. A power failure in the receiving station just before shot time rendered the command transmitter inoperative in consequence, the canister recorders could not be turned on, and no delayed telemetering was possible. Direct telemetering was blacked out at the three closest canisters and the transmitter in the fourth had not responded to the turn-on command signal before power failure occurred, but a direct telemetering signal was received from the most-distant canister. An apparent pressure signal was recorded, but the wave form was abnormal, and the time or arrival and peak overpressure appeared to be mutually inconsistent. Author