NOTS 1
Project Pilot
US Navy
Mission
NOTS 1
Type: Government/Top Secret
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.
Trajectory
The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.
Location
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
Air launch to Suborbital flight
81 rockets have launched from Air launch to Suborbital flight.
Agency
US Navy – USN
- Type: Government
- Abbreviation: USN
- Founded: 1963
- Spacecraft: Vanguard 1-3 | Parker Solar Probe
- Country: USA
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.
