Failure
NOTS 3
Government/Top Secret
US Navy(USN)Government
Project Pilot
LEOorbit
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.
Friday, August 22, 1958 at 12:00 AM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#18
USN Mission
#9
Pad Launch
#3
Location Launch
#3
Launch Window
NET
Aug 22, 1958, 12:00 AM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Air launch to Suborbital flight
Total Launches
86
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
35.6856, -117.6941
Project Pilot Specs
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).
Length
4.4 m
Diameter
0.76 m
Launch Mass
0 t
Thrust
125 kN
LEO Capacity
1 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1958
Fastest Turnaround
1d
Total Launches
6
Successful
0
Failed
6
Consecutive Success
0
Maiden flight: Jul 4, 1958
US Navy
The 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.
Founded
1963
Total Launches
18
Successful
3
Failed
15
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
0