First Atomic Detonation at Nevada Test Site

Sixty years ago, Able, a 1-kiloton device was dropped over Frenchman Flat on January 27th, 1951 by a B-50 Superfortress. The first A-bomb of the Operation Ranger series, Able was also the first nuclear test at the Nevada Proving Ground. It launched Las Vegas into the atomic age and was followed by 99 atmospheric nuclear tests and 828 below ground nuclear tests. See more test shot videos in the Nevada Test Site 60th Anniversary interactive with historic footage, maps, timeline and more.