The North American Test Instrument Vehicle (NATIV)

Built by North American this vehicle was designed to test various ideas. Initial plans called for a liquid-fuel copy of the German Wasserfall anti-aircraft guided missile but proved to be too ambitious. What came from it was a simpler solid-fuel rocket minus the mid-fuselage wings.

The NATIV was launched from Holloman AFB via a 125 ft vertical tower in which there were a total of six attempts made. The NATIV was a Bi-propellent vehicle. Two only briefly left the pad, three which made it some distance up and only one that was considered to be a success reaching an altitude of 18km and a speed of 2.23 Mach.

Dimensions
Length: 14.5 feet
Diameter: 18 inches
Number of Fins: 4
Launch Weight: 1,237 pounds
Propellant: Bi-propellent
Best Altitude: 50,000 feet
First Firing: 1948

Updated: 8-30-2010

Photos
Post-war V-2 | Rockets and Missiles List