1958, the US secretly detonated 3 nuclear devices 100–500 km above the South Atlantic

In a clandestine effort, Operation Argus conducted nuclear tests in the stratosphere over the South Atlantic Ocean. These detonations resulted in spectacular artificial auroras and fleeting radiation belts around our planet. The mission’s intent was to shield against Soviet missile threats and radar detection systems. Yet, the swift vanishing of these barriers caused significant communication disturbances, leading to the formulation of international accords banning nuclear experiments in space.

By TOI World Desk