The eyes of two networks' television cameras will be turned toward Ground Zero, Yucca Flat, Nevada. At approximately 20 minutes after the hour, they will pick up the great nuclear explosion there, "designed to show clearly the effects of the blast on the largest collection of men, buildings and materials ever assembled for an atomic test."
Actually, an entire village has been assembled in the bomb area. Among the structures to be tested are homes, factories, ground-level and underground shelters, a power station and a radio tower.
Volunteers compose a Civil Defense team which will be stationed only two miles from Ground Zero, at which point there will also be television coverage. TV newsmen assigned to the event include Morgan Beatty, Jack Beck, Walter Cronkite, Charles Collingwood, Hugh Downs, Ben Grauer, Dave Garroway, Grant Holcomb, Herb Kaplow, Robert Trout and Dallas Townsend. Most of them will be stationed on Media Hill, 8 1⁄2 miles from Ground Zero.
The Defense Dept. is collaborating with the Atomic Energy Commission and the Civil Defense Administration in the tests.
In the event of bad weather, the explosion and the telecast will be postponed 24 hours.
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