2. Cape Kennedy, Florida, April 1967 



The April 1967 field operation conducted at Cape Kennedy with the 

 assistance of the Air Force Eastern Test Range was fundamentally a test 

 of tracing equipment. Primary objectives were to test the operational 

 characteristics of all equipment and the conceptual framework of the 

 program in the marine environment. Because the emphasis of this phase 

 of the program was on these primary objectives, the geographic and 

 scientific scope of the program were limited. 



With the concurrence of the Air Force, the site selected for this 

 test was on the north side of the Cape where the beach is wide enough to 

 provide easy entrance and exit even at high tide. No rock outcrops on 

 the beach nor on the marine bottom. The offshore slope is gradual to a 

 depth of approximately kO feet , the limit of the sounding records . 



Sediments comprising the bottom at the depth of injection (30 feet) 

 were small shell fragments; beaches were predominantly quartz sand. Winds 

 occurring during the test were light; sea and swell never exceeded 2 feet. 



Since the sand labeled with xenon was quartz sand from California, 

 some problems might have developed with the "deep" water test. However, 

 none did, and all other environmental parameters were nearly perfect for 

 the objectives of the test. When assembled and mounted in the amphibious 

 vehicle (LARC V), instruments were tested on the beach to determine the 

 tracking characteristics of the detector vehicle and the ability of the 

 detectors and analyzer system to see xenonated sand placed on a known 

 section of the beach (Figure 13). Following this sequence the system was 



j jB j j j sg c 



Figure 13. Detector vehicle at Cape Kennedy, Florida. 

 On the beach the detector vehicle followed a true 

 course behind the towing vehicle. When underway, 

 the towing tongue is elevated and does not plow 

 along the beach. See Figure B-l in Appendix B. 



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