Encyclopedia Astronautica
Pegasus/HAPS

American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Five stage version consisting of 1 x NB-52 + 1 x Orion 50S + 1 x Orion 50 + 1 x Orion 38 + 1 x HAPS

LEO Payload: 250 kg (550 lb).

Status: Retired 1994.
Gross mass: 18,500 kg (40,700 lb).
Payload: 250 kg (550 lb).
Height: 15.50 m (50.80 ft).
Diameter: 1.28 m (4.19 ft).
Thrust: 580.00 kN (130,380 lbf).
Apogee: 4,000 km (2,400 mi).
First Launch: 1991.07.17.
Last Launch: 1994.05.19.
Number: 2 .

More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
Associated Spacecraft
  • Microsat American military communications satellite. 7 launches, 1991.07.17 (Microsat 1) to (Microsat 7). Satellites used in a DARPA test of an LEO quick-reaction network for global communications. More...
  • Eagle American military strategic defense satellite. 3 launches, 1994.05.19 (STEP 2 (SIDEX)) to 1997.10.22 (STEP-4). More...
See also
  • Pegasus Privately-funded, air-launched winged light satellite launcher. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
  • OSC American manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Orbital Sciences Corporation, USA. More...
Associated Programs
  • STEP Space Test Experiment Program; series of USAF technology test satellites. More...
Associated Launch Sites
  • Point Arguello WADZ Air-launched rocket drop zone known to have been used for 28 launches from 1990 to 2007, reaching up to 4539 kilometers altitude. More...
Associated Stages
  • L-1011 Subsonic rocket launch aircraft. Loaded/empty mass 156,000/109,629 kg. Thrust 561.90 kN. Specific impulse 9900 seconds. Lockheed airliner swept wing. Release conditions: Belly-mounted, 36,800 kg, 17.1 m length x 7.9 m span at 925 kph at 11,890 m altitude More...
  • Orion 50 Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 3,370/345 kg. Thrust 118.20 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 292 seconds. More...
  • Orion 50S Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 14,020/1,868 kg. Thrust 484.91 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 294 seconds. More...
  • Pegasus-3 Solid propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 985/203 kg. Thrust 34.57 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 293 seconds. More...
  • Pegasus-4 Hydrazine propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 90/17 kg. Thrust 0.67 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 236 seconds. More...

Pegasus/HAPS Chronology
1991 July 17 - . 17:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: 36.0 N x 123.0 W. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus/HAPS. LV Configuration: Pegasus/HAPS 002/F2. Failed Stage: G.
  • Microsat 1 - . Payload: Microsat 1 / ... / Microsat 7. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 21580 . COSPAR: 1991-051A. Apogee: 454 km (282 mi). Perigee: 356 km (221 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 2 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 21581 . COSPAR: 1991-051B. Apogee: 454 km (282 mi). Perigee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 3 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 21582 . COSPAR: 1991-051C. Apogee: 454 km (282 mi). Perigee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 4 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 21583 . COSPAR: 1991-051D. Apogee: 454 km (282 mi). Perigee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 5 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 21584 . COSPAR: 1991-051E. Apogee: 455 km (282 mi). Perigee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 6 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 21585 . COSPAR: 1991-051F. Apogee: 454 km (282 mi). Perigee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
  • Microsat 7 - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Microsat. Decay Date: 1992-01-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 21586 . COSPAR: 1991-051G. Apogee: 452 km (280 mi). Perigee: 358 km (222 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Summary: Test of LEO network for global communications..
1994 May 19 - . 17:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: 36.0 N x 123.0 W. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus/HAPS. LV Configuration: Pegasus/HAPS 005/F5.
  • STEP 2 (SIDEX) - . Payload: STEP M2 / P 91-A. Mass: 180 kg (390 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Program: STEP. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft: Eagle. USAF Sat Cat: 23105 . COSPAR: 1994-029A. Apogee: 813 km (505 mi). Perigee: 597 km (370 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 98.90 min. Summary: Did not achieve planned orbit, though still useful. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .
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