Project Pilot
In-activeUS Navy (USN)
July 4, 1958
Description
The NOTS-EV-1 Pilot, also known as NOTSNIK was an expendable launch system and anti-satellite weapon developed by the United States Navy's United States Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS).
Specifications
-
Stages
5 -
Length
4.4 m -
Diameter
0.76 m -
Fairing Diameter
0.76 m -
Launch Mass
― -
Thrust
125 kN
Family
-
Name
Project Pilot -
Family
― -
Variant
― -
Alias
― -
Full Name
Project Pilot
Payload Capacity
-
Launch Cost
― -
Low Earth Orbit
1 kg -
Geostationary Transfer
Orbit
― -
Direct Geostationary
― -
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―
US Navy
Government
None
USN 1963The Navy was competed with the Army to put the first American satellite into orbit. Their first two Vanguard missions failed, with the second being a highly publicized failure, as it exploded on the launchpad. They went on to put 3 satellites into orbit but did not beat the Army to be the first. Their work in space continues today largely on military satellites.
Project Pilot | NOTS 6
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Aug. 28, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
Low Earth OrbitProject Pilot | NOTS 5
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Aug. 26, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
Low Earth OrbitProject Pilot | NOTS 4
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Aug. 25, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
Low Earth OrbitProject Pilot | NOTS 3
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Aug. 22, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
Low Earth OrbitProject Pilot | NOTS 2
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Aug. 12, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
Low Earth OrbitProject Pilot | NOTS 1
US Navy | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
July 25, 1958, midnight
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
The project pilot payloads were small cylindrical satellites. These missions intended to be the first to launch a satellite from an aircraft. They had only a single instrument, a very primitive infrared line scanning device to make IR images of the ground.
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