1965 Nuclear Rocket Engine Test in Nevada Accidentally Released Radioactive Fallout to Los Angeles
On January 12, 1965, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission conducted a nuclear rocket engine test in Jackass Flats, Nevada, resulting in a blast that sent radioactive fallout over 200 miles to Los Angeles.
The test involved vaporizing part of a prototype Kiwi nuclear reactor core, reaching temperatures above 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the explosion matched predictions and confirmed the viability of nuclear-powered rockets, air samples collected by Air Force bombers revealed radioactive contamination beyond the test site.
The U.S. Public Health Service monitored the fallout's impact, finding radiation doses to nearby populations were below EPA limits. The test raised political tensions, leading the Soviet Union to question U.S. compliance with nuclear testing treaties.
In 1994, Representative Edward J. Markey revealed documents highlighting the test's implications for human experimentation and called for compensation for affected individuals, who later received nearly $5 million.
