Pilot rocket after launch |
|
| Function | Expendable launch system Anti-satellite weapon |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | US Navy |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 4.4 metres (14 ft) |
| Diameter | 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 in) |
| Mass | 900 kilograms (2,000 lb) |
| Stages | Five |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO |
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 |
| Successes | 0 |
| Failures | 10 |
| Maiden flight | Pilot-1: 1958-07-04 Pilot-2: 1958-07-25 |
| Last flight | Pilot-1: 1958-08-17 Pilot-2: 1958-08-28 |
| Notable payloads | Pilot |
| Boosters (Pilot-2) - F-6A Skyray | |
| No boosters | 1 |
| Engines | 1 J57-8 |
| Thrust | 71.14 kilonewtons (15,990 lbf) |
| Fuel | JP-4/Air |
| First Stage | |
| Engines | 2 HOTROC |
| Thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Second Stage | |
| Engines | 2 HOTROC |
| Thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Third Stage | |
| Engines | 1 X-241 |
| Thrust | 12.1 kilonewtons (2,700 lbf) |
| Burn time | 36 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Fourth Stage | |
| Engines | 1 NOTS-8 |
| Thrust | 5.1 kilonewtons (1,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 5.7 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Fifth Stage | |
| Engines | 1 NOTS-3SM |
| Thrust | 700 newtons (160 lbf) |
| Burn time | 1 second |
| Fuel | Solid |
The NOTS-EV-1 Pilot, also known as NOTSNIK was an expendable launch system and anti-satellite weapon developed by the United States Navy United States Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS).[2] 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 were recorded as having reached orbit. Following the first and third orbital launch attempts, a tracking station in New Zealand reported receiving weak signals from the spacecraft,[1] however this was never confirmed,[3] and the launches were not catalogued as having reached orbit.[4] The Pilot rocket was part of Project Pilot.[5]
Two variants of the Pilot rocket were built; the Pilot-1,[5] with battleship second to fifth stages,[6] was used for ground launched atmospheric tests from China Lake, and the Pilot-2,[5] an air-launched version, was used for orbital launch attempts. Orbital launches were conducted from an F-6A Skyray, flying from Point Mugu Naval Air Station,[7] and releasing the rocket over the Santa Barbara Channel Drop Zone.[5] Of the ten launches, four were of Pilot-1s, and the rest Pilot-2s.[3]
Project Pilot was cancelled in August 1958, and replaced by the NOTS-EV-2 Caleb.[8] The project remained classified until 1994.[1]
| Date | Configuration | Payload | Function | Cause of failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-07-04 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Exploded one second after launch[6] |
| 1958-07-18 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Exploded on launch pad[6] |
| 1958-07-25 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-1 | Test | Unexpected loss of signal[5] |
| 1958-08-12 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-2 | Test | Exploded during first stage ignition[1] |
| 1958-08-16 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Structural failure 3.2 seconds after launch[6] |
| 1958-08-17 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Structural failure 3 seconds after launch[6] |
| 1958-08-22 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-3 | Test | Unexpected loss of signal[5] |
| 1958-08-25 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-4 | Radiation research | Exploded during first stage ignition[1] |
| 1958-08-26 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-5 | Radiation research | Failed to ignite[7] |
| 1958-08-28 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-6 | Radiation research | Only one second stage engine ignited[1] |
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