The US detonated three high-altitude nuclear devices over the South Atlantic in 1958
In 1958, the United States secretly detonated three nuclear devices 100–500 kilometers above the South Atlantic. The explosions created artificial auroras and radiation belts that lasted for weeks.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar .
Why it matters
The event demonstrates the potential for high-altitude nuclear testing to produce effects extending beyond the immediate blast area, including persistent radiation in the upper atmosphere.
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- 1958, the US secretly detonated 3 nuclear devices 100–500 km above the South Atlantic; they created artificial auroras and radiation belts that lasted weeks ↗timesofindia.indiatimes.com · Recorded source date: Aug 19, 2026, 4:02 PM UTC
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