NAOTS
Encyclopedia
NAOTS was a United States Navy
base located at 37°55′N 75°22′W, near Chincoteague, VA, that was used as a suborbital launch site. In 1955, research rockets of the Rockair
type were launched from F2H-2
planes based there. An altitude of 54,864 m (180,000 ft) was reached with a 70mm (2.75-in.) folded-fin aerial rocket (FFAR
) of Korean vintage. In spite of successful tests, the rockair concept never achieved the popularity of the rockoon
. Apparently no important scientific rocket research was carried out with rockaires, in contrast to the hundreds of rockoons fired during the 1950s.
In 1959, NASA acquired NAOTS and parts of the station were incorporated into the Wallops Island
facility, later named Wallops Flight Facility
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
base located at 37°55′N 75°22′W, near Chincoteague, VA, that was used as a suborbital launch site. In 1955, research rockets of the Rockair
Rockair
Rockair was a United States sounding rocket designed for launch from an airplane, which was tested 1955. The Rockair had a maximum height of 50 km , a takeoff thrust of 3.00 kN , a diameter of 70 mm and a length of 1.20 m ....
type were launched from F2H-2
F2H Banshee
The McDonnell F2H Banshee was a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. It was one of the primary American fighters used during the Korean War and was the only jet-powered fighter ever deployed by the Royal...
planes based there. An altitude of 54,864 m (180,000 ft) was reached with a 70mm (2.75-in.) folded-fin aerial rocket (FFAR
Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket , sometimes called the Mighty Mouse, was a 2.75 in diameter unguided rocket weapon commonly used by U.S. military aircraft. It was intended as an air-to-air weapon to allow interceptor aircraft to shoot down enemy bombers with greater range and effectiveness than...
) of Korean vintage. In spite of successful tests, the rockair concept never achieved the popularity of the rockoon
Rockoon
A rockoon is a solid fuel sounding rocket that, rather than being immediately lit while on the ground, is first carried into the upper atmosphere by a gas-filled balloon, then separated from the balloon and automatically ignited...
. Apparently no important scientific rocket research was carried out with rockaires, in contrast to the hundreds of rockoons fired during the 1950s.
In 1959, NASA acquired NAOTS and parts of the station were incorporated into the Wallops Island
Wallops Island
Wallops Island is a island off the east coast of Virginia, part of the barrier islands that stretch along the eastern seaboard of the United States of America.It is located in Accomack County, Virginia...
facility, later named Wallops Flight Facility
Wallops Flight Facility
Wallops Flight Facility , located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, primarily as a rocket launch site to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other U.S. government agencies...
.