High explosives safety testing; LANL Dynamic Experiments division

High explosives safety testing; LANL Dynamic Experiments division

From National Security Science Podcast by Brenda Fleming, J. Weston Phippen, Whitney Spivey, Los Alamos National Laboratory

August 26, 2025 · 21 min · Episode 27

About this episode

This episode explores the preparation and execution of an explosives safety test at Los Alamos National Laboratory, featuring insights from Division Director Chuck Mielke.

In the latest episode of the National Security Science podcast, listeners can experience the preparation, execution and aftermath of an explosives safety test. National Security Science takes listeners to the scene of the experiment. As a team of Los Alamos engineers prepare, they discuss the outcome—will it be a boom or a bust? We also sit down with Division Director Chuck Mielke who offers insight on M Division and his team’s work. The Dynamic Experiments division, or M Division, executes large-scale, outdoor, hydrodynamic experiments and provides expertise in current and evolving explosive science, shock physics, high explosive fabrication and disposition. As Mielke explains, the division supports national security and addresses conventional, nuclear, and homeland defense needs.

People in this episode

Guest: Chuck Mielke

Topics covered

  • explosives safety testing
  • dynamic experiments
  • national security
  • shock physics

Keywords

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • M Division
  • high explosives
  • homeland defense

Mentioned in this episode

Products: explosives, hydrodynamic experiments

Places: Los Alamos

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