 Pilot rocket after launch | |
| Function | Expendable launch system Anti-satellite weapon |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | United States Navy |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 4.4 metres (14 ft) |
| Diameter | 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 in) |
| Mass | 950 kilograms (2,090 lb) |
| Stages | Five |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 1.05 kilograms (2.3 lb)[1] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | China Lake LC-G2 Point Mugu NAS |
| Total launches | 4 Pilot-1 6 Pilot-2 |
| Success(es) | 0 |
| Failure(s) | 10 |
| First flight | Pilot-1: 1958-07-04 Pilot-2: 1958-07-25 |
| Last flight | Pilot-1: 1958-08-17 Pilot-2: 1958-08-28 |
| Type of passengers/cargo | Pilot |
| Boosters (Pilot-2) – F4D Skyray | |
| No. boosters | 1 |
| Powered by | 1 J57-8 |
| Maximum thrust | 71.14 kilonewtons (15,990 lbf) |
| Propellant | JP-4/Air |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 2 HOTROC |
| Maximum thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 2 HOTROC |
| Maximum thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Powered by | 1 X-241 |
| Maximum thrust | 12.1 kilonewtons (2,700 lbf) |
| Burn time | 36 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Fourth stage | |
| Powered by | 1 NOTS-8 |
| Maximum thrust | 5.1 kilonewtons (1,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 5.7 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Fifth stage | |
| Powered by | 1 NOTS-3SM |
| Maximum thrust | 700 newtons (160 lbf) |
| Burn time | 1 second |
| Propellant | Solid |
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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Scott, Jeff (2006-04-23). "NOTSNIK, Project Pilot & Project Caleb". Aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ Babcock 2008, p. 438.
- ^ Babcock 2008, p. 441.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Pilot (NOTS-EV-1, NOTSNIK)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Project Pilot". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2018-02-10.