Castle Bravo
Historical eventÜber
Castle Bravo was a pivotal nuclear test conducted by the United States on March 1, 1954, at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. It was the first test in the Operation Castle series, designed to test high-yield thermonuclear devices. The test used a device called "Shrimp," which employed lithium deuteride as its fuel, based on the Teller-Ulam design. The explosion yielded 15 megatons of TNT, significantly exceeding the predicted yield of 6 megatons due to unforeseen reactions involving lithium-7. The test resulted in substantial unintended radioactive fallout, contaminating nearby atolls and affecting U.S. servicemen and the crew of a Japanese fishing vessel, the "Lucky Dragon." The fallout spread globally, impacting health and environment significantly. The incident sparked international concern over nuclear testing, contributing to the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty. Today, Castle Bravo remains a critical historical event, highlighting the risks and consequences of nuclear testing. Its legacy continues to influence nuclear policy and advocacy for disarmament and environmental justice.
