NOTS 1958
American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. The US Navy's satellite launcher project competed with the Army's Jupiter-C, the Air Force Atlas, and the civilian Vanguard. Air-launched satellite launch vehicle, and anti-satellite versions, tested by the US Navy shortly after Sputnik. One may have achieved orbit.
LEO Payload: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). Failures: 10. Success Rate: 0.00%. First Fail Date: 1958-07-04. Last Fail Date: 1958-08-28. Launch data is: complete.
Status: Retired 1958.
Gross mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb).
Payload: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb).
Height: 4.40 m (14.40 ft).
Diameter: 0.76 m (2.49 ft).
Thrust: 125.00 kN (28,101 lbf).
Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).
First Launch: 1958.07.04.
Last Launch: 1958.08.28.
Number: 10 .
More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
Associated Spacecraft
-
Pilot American technology satellite. 6 launches, 1958.07.25 (Pilot 1) to 1958.08.28 (Pilot 6). Pilot launches were deep-black tests of the US Navy's 1950's reconnaissance satellite and ASAT designs. More...
See also
-
Project Pilot The US Navy's satellite launcher project competed with the Army's Jupiter-C, the Air Force Atlas, and the civilian Vanguard. Air-launched satellite launch vehicle, and anti-satellite versions, tested by the US Navy shortly after Sputnik. One may have achieved orbit. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
-
NOTS American manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, CA, USA. More...
Bibliography
-
McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: here.
-
Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Web Address when accessed: here.
-
Koelle, Heinz Hermann,, Handbook of Astronautical Engineering, McGraw-Hill,New York, 1961.
Associated Launch Sites
-
China Lake US Navy aviation ordnance and rocketry development and test center, in operation since 1943 as the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) . More...
Associated Stages
-
F-6A Subsonic rocket launch aircraft. Loaded/empty mass 10,474/6,869 kg. Thrust 71.14 kN. Specific impulse 2770 seconds. Navy fighter used to launch Caleb air-launched rocket. Launch conditions 3,000 lbs at 40,000 feet at 480 mph at 56 degree angle. More...
Project Pilot Chronology
1958 July 4 - .
Launch Site:
China Lake.
Launch Complex:
China Lake G-2.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot-1.
FAILURE: Failure.
- Test mission - .
Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1958 July 18 - .
Launch Site:
China Lake.
Launch Complex:
China Lake G-2.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot-1.
FAILURE: Failure.
- Test mission - .
Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1958 July 25 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 1.
FAILURE: Radio contact lost; possibly reached orbit..
Failed Stage: U.
- Pilot 1 - .
Payload: Diagnostic Payload 1. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-07-25 . COSPAR: F580725A. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
1958 August 12 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 2.
FAILURE: Vehicle exploded at ignition..
Failed Stage: 1.
- Pilot 2 - .
Payload: Diagnostic Payload 2. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-08-12 . COSPAR: F580812A. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
1958 August 16 - .
Launch Site:
China Lake.
Launch Complex:
China Lake G-2.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot-1.
FAILURE: Failure.
- Test mission - .
Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1958 August 17 - .
Launch Site:
China Lake.
Launch Complex:
China Lake G-2.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot-1.
FAILURE: Failure.
- Test mission - .
Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1958 August 22 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 3.
FAILURE: Radio contact lost; possibly reached orbit..
Failed Stage: U.
- Pilot 3 - .
Payload: Diagnostic Payload 3. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-08-22 . COSPAR: F580822A. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1958 August 25 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 4.
FAILURE: Vehicle exploded after 0.75sec..
Failed Stage: 1.
- Pilot 4 - .
Payload: Radiation Payload 1. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-08-25 . COSPAR: F580825A. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
1958 August 26 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 5.
FAILURE: Stage failed to ignite, vehicle fell into Pacific..
Failed Stage: 1.
- Pilot 5 - .
Payload: Radiation Payload 2. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-08-26 . COSPAR: F580826A. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
1958 August 28 - .
Launch Site:
Santa Barbara Channel DZ.
Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W.
Launch Platform: F4D-1 747.
LV Family:
Project Pilot.
Launch Vehicle:
Project Pilot.
LV Configuration: Project Pilot 6.
FAILURE: One first stage motor failed to ignite, causing structural failure..
Failed Stage: 1.
- Pilot 6 - .
Payload: Radiation Payload 3. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Pilot. Decay Date: 1958-08-28 . COSPAR: F580828A. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
Home - Browse - Contact
© / Conditions for Use
