towed, into and through the surf zone to "deep" (30 feet) water for back-' 

 ground radiation measurements. Turbidity of the water precluded observa- 

 tion of the detector by scuba divers in "deep" water, but satisfactory 

 ability to track and operate in the surf was observed. 



An offshore test area, 100 by 300 feet, was laid out nearly parallel 

 to the beach, and. marked by buoys. Using scuba, project scientists placed 

 1 liter (about 2 pounds) of sand tagged with 30 millicuries of xenon-133 

 on the ocean bottom in the center of the test area. When removed from its 

 carrier and placed on the bottom, the sand was observed to spread out and 

 to fall into the interstices between the small shell fragments comprising 

 the bottom. Prior to termination of the survey, the sand was detected 

 and followed by random search for approximately 1 hour over an area some- 

 what larger than the buoyed zone and at right angles to it . 



Objectives of the test were met. The various mechanical and elec- 

 tronic components operated satisfactorily, and the LARC V amphibious 

 vehicle proved to be superior to the small DUKW vehicles which were ori- 

 ginally considered. Xenon could be detected in the marine environment. 

 Counts were obtained that were several orders of magnitude above background. 



Because no navigation system was employed in this test, nor any 

 attempt made to monitor environmental parameters or components, no scien- 

 tific significance is attached to the results regarding sediment transport. 



The on-board data collection system was intermittently subjected to 

 wetting by spray even though waves and surf were light. It became im- 

 mediately evident that it would be necessary to have the on-board systems 

 completely housed, in a watertight instrument shelter. 



3. Surf, California (Vandenberg Air Force Base), June 1967 



As the objective of the Cape Kennedy test was to prove the conceptual 

 framework of the program, the objectives of the first California test were 

 to nurture all phases of the program to a completely operational level, 

 and to test the instruments and field techniques in an environment harsher 

 than that in Florida. 



Scheduling of the test included the selection of a period during the 

 remainder of the fiscal year when atmospheric and oceanic conditions would 

 permit maximum time in the field, and then the coordination and scheduling 

 of xenon-133 manufacture and sand tagging within the time selected for the 

 field effort. To reach an operational level (the prime objective) required 



a. coordination of xenon-133 manufacture, sand tagging and 

 transcontinental air-freight shipping schedules to minimize 

 decay; 



b. coordination (between the field crew and host participant) 

 of movement and storage of tagged sand at the study site; 



c. instruction and training of field crews; 



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