Nuclear Test-Ban, formally Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space,

and Under Water, treaty signed in Moscow on Aug. 5, 1963, by the United States, the Soviet Union, and
the United Kingdom that banned all tests of nuclear weapons except those conducted underground.

The origins of the treaty lay in worldwide public concern over the danger posed by atmospheric
radioactive fallout produced by the aboveground testing of nuclear weapons. This problem had become
an important public issue by 1955, but the first negotiations to ban nuclear tests foundered on differing
proposals and counterproposals made by the United States and the Soviet Union, which were the two
dominant nuclear powers at the time. During most of 1959, both the United States and the Soviet Union
temporarily suspended their testing, but negotiations over the next two years were slowed by renewed
Cold War tensions between the two countries. A gradual rapprochement between the United States and
the Soviet Union was speeded up by the Cuban missile crisis (October 1962), which vividly illustrated the
dangers of nuclear confrontation. The Anglo-American and Soviet proposals for a draft treaty came to
resemble one another during late 1962, and, after only 10 days of discussion in Moscow in JulyAugust
1963, representatives of the three nuclear powers pledged themselves for an unlimited duration to
conduct no more tests in the atmosphere, underwater, or in space.
The Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty banned nuclear-weapons tests in the atmosphere, in outer space, and
underwater but permitted underground testing and required no control posts, no on-site inspection,
and no international supervisory body. It did not reduce nuclear stockpiles, halt the production of
nuclear weapons, or restrict their use in time of war. Within a few months of signing by the three
original parties in August 1963, the treaty was signed by more than 100 other governments, notable
exceptions being France and China. The three original parties to the treaty, the United States, the United
Kingdom, and the Soviet Union (and its successor, Russia), have the power to veto treaty amendments.
Any amendment must be approved by a majority of all the signatory states, including all three of the
original parties.
, formally Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under
Water, treaty signed in Moscow on Aug. 5, 1963, by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United
Kingdom that banned all tests of nuclear weapons except those conducted underground.

The origins of the treaty lay in worldwide public concern over the danger posed by atmospheric
radioactive fallout produced by the aboveground testing of nuclear weapons. This problem had become
an important public issue by 1955, but the first negotiations to ban nuclear tests foundered on differing
proposals and counterproposals made by the United States and the Soviet Union, which were the two
dominant nuclear powers at the time. During most of 1959, both the United States and the Soviet Union
temporarily suspended their testing, but negotiations over the next two years were slowed by renewed
Cold War tensions between the two countries. A gradual rapprochement between the United States and
the Soviet Union was speeded up by the Cuban missile crisis (October 1962), which vividly illustrated the
dangers of nuclear confrontation. The Anglo-American and Soviet proposals for a draft treaty came to
resemble one another during late 1962, and, after only 10 days of discussion in Moscow in JulyAugust
1963, representatives of the three nuclear powers pledged themselves for an unlimited duration to
conduct no more tests in the atmosphere, underwater, or in space.
The Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty banned nuclear-weapons tests in the atmosphere, in outer space, and
underwater but permitted underground testing and required no control posts, no on-site inspection,
and no international supervisory body. It did not reduce nuclear stockpiles, halt the production of
nuclear weapons, or restrict their use in time of war. Within a few months of signing by the three
original parties in August 1963, the treaty was signed by more than 100 other governments, notable
exceptions being France and China. The three original parties to the treaty, the United States, the United
Kingdom, and the Soviet Union (and its successor, Russia), have the power to veto treaty amendments.
Any amendment must be approved by a majority of all the signatory states, including all three of the
original parties.