# Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion? · 1979 Vela incident > Four answers have been proposed. A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. leads, with evidence 5 for, 2 against… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:59:03+00:00 --- **0** # Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: a low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. leads, with evidence 5 for, 2 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters If it was, a state tested a nuclear weapon in violation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the test was never acknowledged; if not, the most trusted nuclear-detection system of its day produced a false alarm that matched its design signature⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMPR4HES/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-the-detected-double)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK021RSG/ad-hoc-panel-report-on-the-september-22-event). The official finding and most of the technical studies disagree⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK021RSG/ad-hoc-panel-report-on-the-september-22-event)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK7W0YTX/the-south-atlantic-mystery-flash-nuclear-or-not). ## Answers 4 [**A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4WYYW57H0/a-low-yield-atmospheric-nuclear-test-of-a-few-kilotons-near) Supported by its tests Evidence: 5 for, 2 against Most likely [**A malfunction or unexplained false signal of an aged satellite, unrelated to any explosion.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X2C84Q4H/a-malfunction-or-unexplained-false-signal-of-an-aged) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Disputed [**A small meteoroid struck the satellite and sunlight reflected from the ejected debris into the bhangmeters.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X0XC3N6F/a-small-meteoroid-struck-the-satellite-and-sunlight) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 for, 3 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X3BG3CCJ/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1979[Dodson puts forward: a low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WH9C1ECW/south-atlantic-nuclear-event-memorandum-with-untitled) 1. 1979[Dodson: the NSC recorded the Intelligence Community's high confidence in a low-yield explosion on 22 October 1979.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WH9C1ECW/south-atlantic-nuclear-event-memorandum-with-untitled)For: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. 1. 1980[Office of Science and Technology Policy (panel chaired by Jack Ruina) puts forward: a small meteoroid struck the satellite and sunlight reflected from the ejected debris into the bhangmeters.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK021RSG/ad-hoc-panel-report-on-the-september-22-event) 1. 1980[Office of Science and Technology Policy (panel chaired by Jack Ruina) puts forward: a malfunction or unexplained false signal of an aged satellite, unrelated to any explosion.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK021RSG/ad-hoc-panel-report-on-the-september-22-event) 1. 1980[Horak: defense Support Program satellites with overlapping coverage did not trigger.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WJGE03ET/vela-event-alert-747)Against: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. 1. 1980[Mauth: los Alamos and Sandia analysts judged the signal consistent with a low-yield atmospheric burst.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WJR805GV/alert-747)For: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. 1. 2017[Wright & De Geer: the first pulses of both bhangmeters agree with each other and with earlier tests; the second-pulse…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMPR4HES/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-the-detected-double)For: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. 1. 2017[Wright & De Geer: given the satellite's geometry and solar panels, most impact debris would move away from the sensors' field…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMPR4HES/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-the-detected-double)Against: A small meteoroid struck the satellite and sunlight reflected from the ejected debris into the bhangmeters. 1. 2017[Wright & De Geer: laser calibration tests showed the bhangmeters operating nominally.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMPR4HES/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-the-detected-double)Against: A malfunction or unexplained false signal of an aged satellite, unrelated to any explosion. 1. 2017[Wright & De Geer: vela 6911 had a memory fault from 1972 to 1978 and was beyond its design life.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMPR4HES/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-the-detected-double)For: A malfunction or unexplained false signal of an aged satellite, unrelated to any explosion. 1. 2018[De Geer & Wright: ascension hydrophones recorded an impulsive signal at 02:43 UTC on a bearing and path consistent with an…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and)For: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. 1. 2018[De Geer & Wright: the first pulse of Alert 747 is inconsistent with the few hundred unexplained signals from which the panel…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and)Against: A malfunction or unexplained false signal of an aged satellite, unrelated to any explosion. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion%23add-source) Where it fits 1979 Vela incident **Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?** Key question · you're here [Did the hydroacoustic signal come from the same event as the flash?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the)Most likely · the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time [Was the iodine-131 in Australian sheep thyroids fallout from the event?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYF84TRD/was-the-iodine-131-in-australian-sheep-thyroids-fallout-from)Most likely · the iodine-131 came from a test near the Prince Edward Islands, carried east and rained out over… [ Ask a question under this one ]