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Timeline of the Nuclear Age
Events of the...
- 1980
- July 15 - The U.S. reports that the light signals recorded over the South Atlantic on September 22, 1979 are probably not from a nuclear explosion. However, information later would indicate that a low yield nuclear test did occur.
- 1981
- August 10 - President Reagan re-authorizes the production of the Enhanced Radiation Weapon or neutron bomb.
- June 7 - Israeli aircraft destroys Iraq's Osirak reactor. It is thought that it was producing materials for an Iraqi nuclear device.
- 1982
- June 29 - Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) begin in Geneva, Switzerland.
- 1983
- March 23 - President Ronald Reagan announces the United States will embark on an extensive research and development program to examine the feasibility of a missile defense program. The Strategic Defense Initiative is later dubbed "Star Wars."
- 1985
- The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty - Multilateral agreement among the nations of the South Pacific is signed.
- August -The Soviet Union announces a nuclear testing moratorium.
- 1986
- April - Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown occurs in the Soviet Union. Massive amounts of radioactive material are released.
- November 28 - The 131st U.S. B-52 bomber is deployed, exceeding the 130 limit on strategic bombers, thus negating the SALT II Treaty.
- December - First 10 U.S. 'Peacekeeper' or MX ICBM become operational.
- 1987
- December 8 - President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. It eliminates all land-based missiles with ranges between 300-3,400 miles.
- 1988
- The U.S. and U.S.S.R. sign the Agreement on Notification of Missile Launches.
- 1989
- The first Trident SLBM is introduced into service.
- October 19 - The final Soviet underground nuclear test occurs at the Semipalatinsk testing site in Kazakhstan.
- November 9 - The Berlin Wall falls, as East Germany opens its borders with West Germany, marking the end of the Cold War.
