TIMELINE: History of major nuclear weapon facilities in the United States
TIMELINE: History of major nuclear weapon facilities in the United States
The debate on nuclear weapons is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the world. Although many countries have signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, some nuclear weapon facilities are still active. In the United States, nuclear weapon facilities were mostly established because of World War II and the Cold War. The U.S. alone is notable for its two nuclear bombs detonating over Japan’s sky in 1945. However, since the end of the Cold War in 1991 and the last nuclear weapon test in 1992, most of the nuclear weapon facilities have stopped producing mass nuclear weapons and shifted its primary mission to maintain the safety of existing warheads.
The debate on nuclear weapons is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the world. Although many countries have signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, some nuclear weapon facilities are still active. In the United States, nuclear weapon facilities were mostly established because of World War II and the Cold War. The U.S. alone is notable for its two nuclear bombs detonating over Japan’s sky in 1945. However, since the end of the Cold War in 1991 and the last nuclear weapon test in 1992, most of the nuclear weapon facilities have stopped producing mass nuclear weapons and shifted its primary mission to maintain the safety of existing warheads.
World War II began Sept. 1, 1939, rising from the conflict between the Allies and the Axis.
The United States began plans of developing nuclear weapons in fear of a similarly powerful weapon from Nazi Germany.
Manhattan Project was created with the purpose of producing the first nuclear weapon to go against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the birthplace of the U.S. nuclear weapon history, was established in Santa Fe, N.M.
LANL was a part of the Manhattan Project.
Until 1992, LANL’s mission was to research, design and produce new warheads.
Today, LANL is responsible for the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear weapons.
Hanford Site, a part of the Manhattan Project, was established in Hanford, Wash.
The site was home to the first plutonium reactor.
Plutonium produced here was used in the Fat Man bomb.
More reactors were produced here during the Cold War.
Since 1987, Hanford Site has stopped producing weapons and shifted its mission to clean up the site after a long time polluting the surroundings.
Y-12 National Security Complex, a part of the Manhattan Project, was established in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Y-12 produced uranium used in the Little Boy bomb.
Today, Y-12 continues to produce nuclear weapon components from uranium and lithium.
Y-12 National Security Complex, a part of the Manhattan Project, was established in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Y-12 produced uranium used in the Little Boy bomb.
Today, Y-12 continues to produce nuclear weapon components from uranium and lithium
The first nuclear weapon test, Trinity, occurred July 16, 1945 near Alamogordo, N.M.
Little Boy bomb detonated Aug. 6, 1945 in Hiroshima, Japan.
Fat Man bomb exploded Aug. 9, 1945 over Nagasaki, Japan.
The two bombs are the only nuclear weapons used in the history of warfare.
World War II ended Sept. 2, 1945.
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was created to research, design and test the nonnuclear components associated with nuclear weapons.
SNL operates many sites; its primary location is in Albuquerque, N.M.
SNL is responsible for the safety of the nonnuclear components in the existing nuclear weapons.
Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), initially known as Kansas City Plant, was opened.
Before 1949, the facility originally produced aircraft engines for Navy fighters during World War II.
85 percent of the nonnuclear components of the U.S. nuclear weapons were produced here.
Since 1992, KCNSC has provided new components for the existing weapons.
President Truman authorized construction of Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, S.C.
SRS was built to produce tritium and plutonium-239 to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Five reactors were operated from 1953 to 1988.
SRS no longer operates reactors or produces tritium, but the site extracts, recycles and reloads tritium of the existing weapons.
Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) was established as Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, Nevada to test explosive nuclear weapons.
The first atmospheric nuclear test took place Jan. 27, 1951.
The U.S. carried out 823 underground tests at NNSS.
Since 1992, NNSS has been responsible for stockpile stewardship.
Pantex Plant, originally a conventional bomb plant for the U.S. Air Force during World War II, reopened near Amarillo, Texas.
Pantex Plant was the only facility in the U.S. where nuclear weapons were assembled and disassembled.
Today, Pantex Plant’s mission is to refurbish existing warheads and dissemble retired weapons.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) was established in Livermore, Calif. as the University of California Radiation Laboratory at Livermore.
Its purpose was to assist but also compete with LANL in nuclear weapon research and development.
LLNL designed the first nuclear warhead for U.S. submarine-launched ballistic missile.
Today, LLNL is a research and design nuclear weapon facility.
Soviet Union dissolved Dec. 26, 1991, ending the Cold War.
The last nuclear weapon test took place Sept. 23, 1992 at NNSS.