NOTS-EV-1 Pilot

Pilot rocket after launch
FunctionExpendable launch system
Anti-satellite weapon
ManufacturerUnited States Navy
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height4.4 metres (14 ft)
Diameter0.76 metres (2 ft 6 in)
Mass950 kilograms (2,090 lb)
StagesFive
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass1.05 kilograms (2.3 lb)[1]
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesChina Lake LC-G2
Point Mugu NAS
Total launches4 Pilot-1
6 Pilot-2
Success(es)0
Failure(s)10
First flightPilot-1: 1958-07-04
Pilot-2: 1958-07-25
Last flightPilot-1: 1958-08-17
Pilot-2: 1958-08-28
Type of passengers/cargoPilot
Boosters (Pilot-2) – F4D Skyray
No. boosters1
Powered by1 J57-8
Maximum thrust71.14 kilonewtons (15,990 lbf)
PropellantJP-4/Air
First stage
Powered by2 HOTROC
Maximum thrust63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf)
Burn time4.9 seconds
PropellantSolid
Second stage
Powered by2 HOTROC
Maximum thrust63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf)
Burn time4.9 seconds
PropellantSolid
Third stage
Powered by1 X-241
Maximum thrust12.1 kilonewtons (2,700 lbf)
Burn time36 seconds
PropellantSolid
Fourth stage
Powered by1 NOTS-8
Maximum thrust5.1 kilonewtons (1,100 lbf)
Burn time5.7 seconds
PropellantSolid
Fifth stage
Powered by1 NOTS-3SM
Maximum thrust700 newtons (160 lbf)
Burn time1 second
PropellantSolid

The NOTS-EV-1 Pilot, better known as NOTSNIK (pronounced notsnik a play on "sputnik") was an expendable launch system and anti-satellite weapon developed by the United States Navy's United States Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS).[2] NOTSNIK began as an in-house project using available NOTS funds. The Advanced Research Projects Agency later supplied some funds for the program.[3] The program involved creating transistorized sensors to detect nuclear explosions from the Operation Argus tests. Ten were launched during July and August 1958, all of which failed. It was the first air-launched rocket to be used for an orbital launch attempt; however, none was recorded as having reached orbit. Following the third orbital launch attempt a NOTS engineer at the tracking station in Christchurch, New Zealand reported receiving a weak signal from the spacecraft;[4] This was never confirmed,[5] and the launches were not catalogued as having reached orbit.[6] The Pilot rocket was part of Project Pilot.[7]

  1. ^ LePage, Andrew J. (July 1998). "NOTSNIK: The Navy's Secret Satellite Program". Spaceviews. Archived from the original on May 21, 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  2. ^ Scott, Jeff (2006-04-23). "NOTSNIK, Project Pilot & Project Caleb". Aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  3. ^ Babcock 2008, p. 438.
  4. ^ Babcock 2008, p. 441.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Pilot (NOTS-EV-1, NOTSNIK)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  6. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Orbital Launch Failures". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  7. ^ Wade, Mark. "Project Pilot". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2018-02-10.