User:Redbean15/Nuclear espionage

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India[edit]

India's path to become a nuclear power began with successful nuclear detonation during the operation known as Smiling Buddha in 1974. The official name for the project was Pokhran-I. It wasn't until May 13, 1998 that Pokhran-II, the next major development of India's nuclear weapons program, was detonated. It consisted of one fusion bomb and four fission bombs. This led then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to officially declare India as a nuclear power. However, India was involved in the nuclear dealings of the world much sooner than this.

A Pu-283 Pellet, like those used in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG)

India was involved with assisting espionage between the United States and China in October 1965. The CIA enlisted 14 American climbers to scale Nanda Devi, and working in cooperation with the Indian Intelligence Bureau, successfully planned the Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission. The objective of the mission was for the 14 climbers to work in unison to place a detector on the peak of Nanda Devi, thus allowing the U.S. to spy on China. More specifically, the Xinjiang Province. This was due to the lack of intelligence that the U.S. had on Chinese nuclear capacities during the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the mission failed due to one of the generators being lost during a snowstorm. However, this failed mission has had lasting impact on the region. Snow from the mountain carries into the Ganges , a crucial river for the survival and daily lives of millions of people that live in this region. It is thought that the generator was carried down the mountain by an avalanche.[1] The river also has significant religious and spiritual importance to Hindu's, who worship the river as Ganga. The CIA, knowing about the radioactive material being lost, sent climbers back to the area to search for the generator in 1966. This attempt was unsuccessful. In 1967 a new generator was sent with the climbers and was placed atop the peak of Nanda Kot. This mission was a success, and the U.S. was able to spy on the Chinese region.

Article Draft[edit]

Lead[edit]

India's path to become a nuclear power began with successful nuclear detonation during the operation known as Smiling Buddha in 1974. The official name for the project was Pokhran-I. It wasn't until May 13, 1998 that Pokhran-II, the next major development of India's nuclear weapons program, was detonated. It consisted of one fusion bomb and four fission bombs. This led then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to officially declare India as a nuclear power. However, India was involved in the nuclear dealings of the world much sooner than this.

Article body[edit]

India was involved with assisting espionage between the United States and China in October 1965. The CIA enlisted 14 American climbers to scale Nanda Devi, and working in cooperation with the Indian Intelligence Bureau, successfully planned the Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission. The objective of the mission was for the 14 climbers to work in unison to place a detector on the peak of Nanda Devi, thus allowing the U.S. to spy on China.[2] More specifically, the Xinjiang Province. This was due to the lack of intelligence that the U.S. had on Chinese nuclear capacities during the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the mission failed due to one of the generators being lost during a snowstorm. However, this failed mission has had lasting impact on the region. Snow from the mountain carries into the Ganges , a crucial river for the survival and daily lives of millions of people that live in this region. It is thought that the generator was carried down the mountain by an avalanche.[1] The river also has significant religious and spiritual importance to Hindu's, who worship the river as Ganga. The CIA, knowing about the radioactive material being lost, sent climbers back to the area to search for the generator in 1966. This attempt was unsuccessful. In 1967 a new generator was sent with the climbers and was placed atop the peak of Nanda Kot. This mission was a success, and the U.S. was able to spy on the Chinese region.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b O'Toole, Thomas (1978-04-13). "CIA Put Nuclear Spy Devices in Himalayas". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  2. ^ O'Toole, Thomas (1978-04-13). "CIA Put Nuclear Spy Devices in Himalayas". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-29.