NOTS-EV-1 Pilot
 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 toLEO | |
| Mass | 1.05 kilograms (2.3 lb)[1] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | China LakeLC-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 | 1J57-8 |
| Maximum thrust | 71.14 kilonewtons (15,990 lbf) |
| Propellant | JP-4/Air |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 2HOTROC |
| Maximum thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 2HOTROC |
| Maximum thrust | 63.2 kilonewtons (14,200 lbf) |
| Burn time | 4.9 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Powered by | 1X-241 |
| Maximum thrust | 12.1 kilonewtons (2,700 lbf) |
| Burn time | 36 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Fourth stage | |
| Powered by | 1NOTS-8 |
| Maximum thrust | 5.1 kilonewtons (1,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 5.7 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Fifth stage | |
| Powered by | 1NOTS-3SM |
| Maximum thrust | 700 newtons (160 lbf) |
| Burn time | 1 second |
| Propellant | Solid |
TheNOTS-EV-1 Pilot,better known asNOTSNIK(pronounced notsnika play on "sputnik" ) was anexpendable launch systemandanti-satellite weapondeveloped by theUnited States Navy'sUnited States Naval Ordnance Test Station(NOTS).[2]NOTSNIK began as an in-house project using available NOTS funds. TheAdvanced Research Projects Agencylater supplied some funds for the program.[3]The program involved creating transistorized sensors to detect nuclear explosions from theOperation Argustests. Ten were launched during July and August 1958, all of which failed. It was the first air-launched rocket to be used for anorbitallaunch 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 ofProject Pilot.[7]
Overview
[edit]Two variants of the Pilot rocket were built; thePilot-1,[7]withbattleshipsecond to fifth stages,[8]was used for ground-launched atmospheric tests fromChina Lake,and thePilot-2,[7]an air-launched version, was used for orbital launch attempts. Orbital launches were conducted from a stripped–down jet carrier aircraft, anF4D–1 Skyray,flying fromPoint Mugu Naval Air Station,[9]and releasing the rocket over theSanta Barbara Channel Drop Zone.[7]Of the ten launches, four were of Pilot-1s, and the rest Pilot-2s.[5]
The first air–launch was performed on 25 July 1958 by NOTS research pilot William West, a career US Navy officer. The flight originated from China Lake's airstrip at Inyokern. The jet fighter was placed into a steep climb. The rocket released automatically at 41,000 feet (12,000 m), and three seconds later the first two HOTROCs ignited. The first flight was a failure. The second air–launch, in August, ended in a HOTROC explosion. On the third attempt the F4D pilot reported that the missile exploded, just like the first two had. Radio contact with the ground was lost during the second–stage burn, but the rocket appeared on film, departing over the horizon. Though objects believed to be the nozzle seal, and perhaps missile or fin skin were seen departing the disappearing missile.[10]A NOTS engineer, Frank St. George at the tracking station at Christchurch New Zealand alone of the four stations which remained listening reported a faint single beep at the predicted time during the first orbital windows.[11]No further signal was received, so the mission was also declared a failure.
Project Pilot was cancelled in August 1958, and replaced by theNOTS-EV-2 Caleb;[12]The project remainedclassifieduntil 1994.[1]Following this series of tests, and the follow-on Caleb program being riddled with multiple failures, US Secretary of DefenseRobert McNamaradecided to terminate the Navy's space program and assign all responsibility to the US Air Force.
Launch history
[edit]| Date | Configuration | Payload | Function | Cause of failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-07-04 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Exploded one second after launch[8] |
| 1958-07-18 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Exploded on launch pad[8] |
| 1958-07-25 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-1 | Test | Unexpected loss of signal[7] |
| 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[8] |
| 1958-08-17 | Pilot-1 | N/A | Test | Structural failure 3 seconds after launch[8] |
| 1958-08-22 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-3 | Test | Unexpected loss of signal[7] |
| 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[9] |
| 1958-08-28 | Pilot-2 | Pilot-6 | Radiation research | Only one second stage engine ignited[1] |
See also
[edit]- Jaguar,sounding rocket launched from B-57
References
[edit]- ^abcdeLePage, Andrew J. (July 1998)."NOTSNIK: The Navy's Secret Satellite Program".Spaceviews. Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2003.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^Scott, Jeff (2006-04-23)."NOTSNIK, Project Pilot & Project Caleb".Aerospaceweb.org.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^Babcock 2008, p. 438.
- ^Babcock 2008, p. 441.
- ^abKrebs, Gunter."Pilot (NOTS-EV-1, NOTSNIK)".Gunter's Space Page.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^McDowell, Jonathan."Orbital Launch Failures".Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database.Jonathan's Space Page. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-08-20.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^abcdefWade, Mark."Project Pilot".Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-30.Retrieved2018-02-10.
- ^abcdeKrebs, Gunter."Pilot 1 stage (NOTS-EV-1)".Gunter's Space Page.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^abKrebs, Gunter."Pilot (NOTS-EV-1)".Gunter's Space Page.Retrieved2009-01-17.
- ^Babcock 2008, p. 441.
- ^Babcock 2008, p. 441.
- ^Parsch, Andreas (2003-10-17)."NOTS NOTS-EV-1 Pilot (NOTSNIK)".Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4.Designation-Systems.Net.Retrieved2009-01-17.
Further reading
[edit]- Babcock, Elisabeth (2008).Magnificent Mavericks: transition of the Naval Ordnance Test Station from Rocket station to research, development, test, and evaluation center 1948-58.Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center and the Naval Air Systems Command.
- Babcock (1961)Development of the Corporal: the embryo of the army missile programVol 1. ABMA unclassified report, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
External links
[edit]
Media related toProject Pilotat Wikimedia Commons