NOTS-EV-1 Pilot

NOTS-EV-1 Pilot

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]

Launch history

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]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} LePage, Andrew J. (July 1998). "NOTSNIK: The Navy's Secret Satellite Program". Spaceviews. ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/info/newsletters/spaceviews/text/spaceviews.9807.txt. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
2. ^ Scott, Jeff (2006-04-23). "NOTSNIK, Project Pilot & Project Caleb". Aerospaceweb.org. http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/spacecraft/q0271.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Krebs, Gunter. "Pilot (NOTS-EV-1, NOTSNIK)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/nots1.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Orbital Launch Failures". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/lis/F.lis. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Wade, Mark. "Project Pilot". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/propilot.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e} Krebs, Gunter. "Pilot 1 stage (NOTS-EV-1)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/pilot_1st.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Krebs, Gunter. "Pilot (NOTS-EV-1)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/pilot.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
8. ^ Parsch, Andreas (2003-10-17). "NOTS NOTS-EV-1 Pilot (NOTSNIK)". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4. Designation-Systems.Net. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/notsnik.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.