Caleb
Launch vehicle · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva
American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Heavily classified project related to air-launched ASAT development. Launch tests in 1958. NOTS project staff believed they successfully orbited a satellite but unconfirmed.
The 3 stage vehicle was air-launched from an F4H Phantom and consisted of 1 x NOTS 500 + 1 x X-248 motors.
LEO Payload: 7.00 kg (15.40 lb) to a 500 km orbit.
Stage Data - Caleb
- Stage 0. 1 x F-6. Gross Mass: 8,163 kg (17,996 lb). Empty Mass: 6,870 kg (15,140 lb). Thrust (vac): 45.355 kN (10,196 lbf). Isp: 1,414 sec. Burn time: 3,000 sec. Isp(sl): 1,285 sec. Diameter: 3.96 m (12.99 ft). Span: 10.21 m (33.49 ft). Length: 13.93 m (45.70 ft). Propellants: Air/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: J57-8. Status: Out of Production. Comments: Douglas (Heinemann) designed fighter-delta wing. Used as zero stage for Caleb miniature satellite launcher. Maximum release conditions: 3,628 kg at 1,166 kph at 16,768 m altitude.
- Stage 1. 1 x Caleb-1. Gross Mass: 1,033 kg (2,277 lb). Empty Mass: 194 kg (427 lb). Thrust (vac): 53.357 kN (11,995 lbf). Isp: 204 sec. Burn time: 34 sec. Isp(sl): 204 sec. Diameter: 0.60 m (1.96 ft). Span: 1.39 m (4.56 ft).Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: NOTS-1. Status: Out of Production.
- Stage 2. 1 x Caleb-2. Gross Mass: 267 kg (588 lb). Empty Mass: 23 kg (50 lb). Thrust (vac): 13.778 kN (3,097 lbf). Isp: 254 sec. Burn time: 39 sec. Isp(sl): 204 sec. Diameter: 0.0000 m ( ft). Span: 0.0000 m ( ft).Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: X-248. Status: Out of Production.
- Stage 3. 1 x Caleb-3. Gross Mass: 35 kg (77 lb). Empty Mass: 6.00 kg (13.20 lb). Thrust (vac): 2.265 kN (509 lbf). Isp: 250 sec. Burn time: 25 sec. Isp(sl): 204 sec. Diameter: 0.0000 m ( ft). Span: 0.0000 m ( ft).Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: NOTS-3. Status: Out of Production.
- Stage 4. 1 x Caleb-4. Gross Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Empty Mass: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). Thrust (vac): 706 N (158 lbf). Isp: 250 sec. Burn time: 3.00 sec. Isp(sl): 204 sec. Diameter: 0.0000 m ( ft). Span: 0.0000 m ( ft).Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: NOTS-4. Status: Out of Production.
More at: Caleb.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Engines
- J57-8
- Spacecraft
- Hi-Hoe
- Launch Sites
- Vandenberg, San Nicolas
- Agency
- USN
Photo Gallery
NOTS 1958
Chronology
7 events
1960 July 28
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Platform: F4D-1 747. Launch Vehicle: Caleb.- TV-1 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN NOTS. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). Research and Development Flight (TV-1).
1960 October 24
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Platform: F4D-1 747. Launch Vehicle: Caleb. FAILURE: Second stage failed..- TV-2 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN NOTS. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). Research and Development Flight (TV-2).
1961 October 1
Launch Site: San Nicolas. Launch Vehicle: Caleb.- Test mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USN NOTS.
Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).
Satellite Interceptor Program (SIP) test vehicle. This was a follow-on to China Lake's "Notsnik" air-launched satellite and Caleb space-probe projects, SIP was a prototype air-launched satellite-killer system using primarily in-house technology and hardware.