Vastrap
Encyclopedia
Vastrap is a small military airfield situated in the Kalahari Desert
north east of Upington
inside a 700 square kilometre weapons test range of the same name belonging to the South African National Defence Force
. It was constructed to allow the SAAF to practice tactical bombing
operations, and for aircraft to service the SADF's defunct underground atomic bomb test site.
s testing due to its remoteness, low population density, stable geological formations and lack of underground rivers.
Two underground shafts 385 metres (1,263.1 ft) and 216 metres (708.7 ft) in depth and 1 metres (3.3 ft) in diameter were drilled from 1975-1977. Neither was ever used to perform a detonation, although instrumented tests were performed. The shafts were sealed with sand and concrete under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency
in July 1993.
, Cosmos
922 when it photographed the area from 21-25 July 1977, and reported to the Americans on 6 August, who in turn confirmed its existence with an overflight of the Lockhead SR-71
spy plane. The US then applied pressure on the South Africans for it to be closed; France also insisted on closure, threatening cancellation of the Koeberg nuclear power station
contract.
David Albright
reported that South African officials believed that an attempt to re-use the site in the late 1980's was detected by Western or Soviet intelligence agencies, and that this discovery influenced the Tripartite Accord. In an effort to mask activities, a shed was built over one of the shafts, and the water that was pumped out in preparation for a test was hauled away.
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
north east of Upington
Upington, Northern Cape
Upington is a town founded in 1884 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was named after Sir Thomas Upington, Attorney-General and then Prime Minister of the Cape. It originated as a mission station established in 1875 and run by...
inside a 700 square kilometre weapons test range of the same name belonging to the South African National Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
. It was constructed to allow the SAAF to practice tactical bombing
Tactical bombing
Tactical bombing is the aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as troops, military installations or equipment. This is in contrast to strategic bombing, attacking enemy's cities and factories to debilitate the enemy's capacity to wage war, the enemy's future military...
operations, and for aircraft to service the SADF's defunct underground atomic bomb test site.
Atomic Testing
The area was selected for nuclear weaponNuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s testing due to its remoteness, low population density, stable geological formations and lack of underground rivers.
Two underground shafts 385 metres (1,263.1 ft) and 216 metres (708.7 ft) in depth and 1 metres (3.3 ft) in diameter were drilled from 1975-1977. Neither was ever used to perform a detonation, although instrumented tests were performed. The shafts were sealed with sand and concrete under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
in July 1993.
Detection
The site was first detected by the Soviet spy satelliteSpy satellite
A spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications....
, Cosmos
Cosmos (satellite)
Kosmos is a designation given to a large number of satellites operated by the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia. Kosmos 1, the first spacecraft to be given a Kosmos designation, was launched on March 16, 1962....
922 when it photographed the area from 21-25 July 1977, and reported to the Americans on 6 August, who in turn confirmed its existence with an overflight of the Lockhead SR-71
SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...
spy plane. The US then applied pressure on the South Africans for it to be closed; France also insisted on closure, threatening cancellation of the Koeberg nuclear power station
Koeberg nuclear power station
Koeberg nuclear power station is the only nuclear power station in South Africa and the entire African continent. It is located 30 km north of Cape Town, near Melkbosstrand on the west coast of South Africa. Koeberg is owned and operated by the country's only national electricity supplier, Eskom...
contract.
David Albright
David Albright
David Albright, M.S., is the founder of the non-governmental Institute for Science and International Security , its current president, and author of several books on proliferation of atomic weapons. Albright holds a Master of Science in physics from Indiana University and a M.Sc. in mathematics...
reported that South African officials believed that an attempt to re-use the site in the late 1980's was detected by Western or Soviet intelligence agencies, and that this discovery influenced the Tripartite Accord. In an effort to mask activities, a shed was built over one of the shafts, and the water that was pumped out in preparation for a test was hauled away.