On October 30, 1961, Tsar Bomba Detonated from Tu-95 Bomber, Producing 50 Megaton Explosion at 4 km over Novaya Zemlya

Oct 30, 2024, 06:21 PM

On October 30, 1961, the Soviet Union conducted the detonation of the AN602, known as the Tsar Bomba, marking it as the largest nuclear weapon ever tested. This thermonuclear bomb, with a yield of 50 megatons, was dropped from a Tu-95 bomber and detonated at an altitude of 4 kilometers over the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. The explosion produced the most powerful human-made blast ever recorded, with a mushroom cloud reaching an altitude of 37 miles (60 kilometers). The event has been recognized as a significant moment in nuclear history, with ongoing discussions about its implications and effects. A declassified Soviet documentary about the test, released by Rosatom in 2020, provides further insights into this historical event.