"At 0900 GMT, a brilliant white flash burned through the clouds rapidly changing to an expanding green ball of irradiance extending into the clear sky above the overcast. From its surface extruded great white fingers, resembling cirrostratus clouds.."
- Major C. McHugh, Kwajalein Atoll.
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Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States, a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Defense Atomic Support Agency. It was launched from Johnston Atoll on July 9, 1962, and was the largest nuclear test conducted in outer space, and one of five conducted by the US. It was part of Operation Fishbowl, a series of high-altitude nuclear tests in 1962 that were carried out by the U.S as a part of the larger Operation Dominic nuclear test program.
