Vastrap

The area was selected for nuclear weapons testing due to its remoteness, low population density, stable geological formations and lack of underground rivers.{{cite book|title=Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience|isbn=0-595-35665-6|year=2005|author=Jan Van Loggerenberg, Richardt Van Der Walt|publisher=iUniverse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q_TW9mgeSu0C}}

Two underground shafts {{Convert|385|m|ft}} and {{Convert|216|m|ft}} in depth and {{Convert|1|m|ft}} in diameter were drilled from 1975–1977.{{cite web|title=South Africa and the Affordable Bomb|publisher=thebulletin.org |author=David Albright|date=July–August 1994|volume=50|pages=37–47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VAwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1

}} Neither was ever used to perform a detonation, although instrumented tests were performed. The shafts were sealed with sand and concrete under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency in July 1993.{{cite web|publisher=Carnegie Endowment|date=2007-07-24|title=Tracking South Africa|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Tracking_SAfrica.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051022112644/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/Tracking_SAfrica.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 October 2005}}

The site was first detected by the Soviet spy satellite, Cosmos 922 when it photographed the area from 21–25 July 1977, and reported to the Americans on 6 August, who in turn confirmed its existence with an overflight of the Lockheed SR-71 spy plane.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQGSAAAAIAAJ|title=U.S. Military Involvement in Southern Africa|publisher=South End Press|year=1978|isbn=0-89608-041-2}} The US then applied pressure on the South Africans for it to be closed;{{cite book|title=Of Warriors, Lovers, and Prophets: Unusual Stories from South Africa's Past|publisher=New Holland Publishers|year=2004|isbn=1-86872-901-X|last=du Preez|first=Max}} France also insisted on closure, threatening cancellation of the Koeberg nuclear power station contract.{{cite book|title=From Defence to Development: Redirecting Military Resources in South Africa|isbn=0-88936-853-8|publisher=International Development Research Centre|page=1921|year=1998}}

David Albright reported that South African officials believed that an attempt to re-use the site in the late 1980s was detected by Western or Soviet intelligence agencies, and that this discovery influenced the Tripartite Accord.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VAwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA37|author=David Albright|magazine=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|title=South Africa and the Affordable Bomb|date=July 1994|page=44}} In an effort to mask activities, a shed was built over one of the shafts, and the water that was pumped out in preparation for a test was hauled away.

The airfield is operated by AFB Bloemspruit.

• South Africa and weapons of mass destruction

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• [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Safrica/SABuildingBombs.html Photographs of the shafts being sealed]

Category:Military installations of South Africa

Category:Nuclear weapons of South Africa

Category:Military history of South Africa

Category:Nuclear test sites

Category:South African nuclear sites

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