Rocket Gamma Scanning of Nuclear Bursts

A rocketborne instrument for locating and mapping the gamma radiating debris cloud produced by high-altitude nuclear explosions has been developed and tested. The instrument contains two scintillating type detectors assembled into a directional uranium shield. Two detectors are employed in order to optimize sensitivity and angular resolution over the large dynamic range of gamma flux rates experienced during the lifetime of the debris cloud. A raster of celestial space is developed by slowly scanning the directional detectors in elevation while the payload rotates in azimuth.