Orbital launch vehicle
Pegasus
The Pegasus is an air-launched rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems). Capable of carrying small payloads of up to 443 kilograms (977 lb) into low Earth orbit, the vehicle consists of three solid propellant stages and an optional monopropellant fourth stage. Pegasus is released from its carrier aircraft at approximately 40,000 ft (12,000 m), and its first stage has a wing and a tail to provide lift and attitude control while in the atmosphere.
Pegasus is built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 5 April 1990 and last flew on 3 August 1994.
Flight record
Payload
| Low Earth orbit | 443kg |
|---|---|
| Launch cost | $40M |
| Cost per kg to LEO | $90,293 |
Vehicle
| Stages | 3 |
|---|---|
| Length | 16.9m |
| Diameter | 1.27m |
| Launch mass | 18t |
| Liftoff thrust | 580kN |
| Maiden flight | 1990-04-05 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-08-03 | Pegasus | APEX | Edwards Air Force Base | Elliptical Orbit | Success |
| 1993-04-25 | Pegasus | Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (ALEXIS) | Edwards Air Force Base | Success | |
| 1993-02-09 | Pegasus | Satélite de Coleta de Dados-1 (SCD-1) | Cape Canaveral | Success | |
| 1990-04-05 | Pegasus | Pegsat, NavySat | Edwards Air Force Base | Success |
Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.
Further reading: Wikipedia