Pegasus

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Pegasus

Pegasus

American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Privately-funded, air-launched winged light satellite launcher.

Status: Active. First Launch: 1990-04-05. Last Launch: 1994-08-03. Number: 4 . Payload: 375 kg (826 lb). Thrust: 486.64 kN (109,401 lbf). Gross mass: 19,000 kg (41,000 lb). Height: 15.50 m (50.80 ft). Diameter: 1.27 m (4.16 ft). Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

4 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x NB-52 + 1 x Orion 50S + 1 x Orion 50 + 1 x Orion 38.

LEO Payload: 375 kg (826 lb) to a 200 km orbit. Development Cost $: 55.000 million. Launch Price $: 11.000 million in 1994 dollars.

Stage Data - Pegasus

Stage 0. 1 x L-1011. Gross Mass: 156,000 kg (343,000 lb). Empty Mass: 109,629 kg (241,690 lb). Thrust (vac): 561.900 kN (126,320 lbf). Isp: 9,900 sec. Burn time: 4,590 sec. Isp(sl): 9,000 sec. Diameter: 16.86 m (55.31 ft). Span: 47.00 m (154.00 ft). Length: 54.00 m (177.00 ft). Propellants: Air/Kerosene. No Engines: 3. Engine: RB-211-22B. Status: In Production. Comments: 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.

Stage 1. 1 x Pegasus-1. Gross Mass: 14,020 kg (30,900 lb). Empty Mass: 1,868 kg (4,118 lb). Thrust (vac): 484.909 kN (109,012 lbf). Isp: 294 sec. Burn time: 72 sec. Isp(sl): 180 sec. Diameter: 1.27 m (4.16 ft). Span: 6.71 m (22.01 ft). Length: 8.88 m (29.13 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: Pegasus-1. Status: In Production.

Stage 2. 1 x Pegasus-2. Gross Mass: 3,370 kg (7,420 lb). Empty Mass: 345 kg (760 lb). Thrust (vac): 118.199 kN (26,572 lbf). Isp: 292 sec. Burn time: 73 sec. Isp(sl): 240 sec. Diameter: 1.27 m (4.16 ft). Span: 1.27 m (4.16 ft). Length: 2.65 m (8.69 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: Pegasus-2. Status: In Production.

Stage 3. 1 x Pegasus-3. Gross Mass: 985 kg (2,171 lb). Empty Mass: 203 kg (447 lb). Thrust (vac): 34.568 kN (7,771 lbf). Isp: 293 sec. Burn time: 65 sec. Isp(sl): 240 sec. Diameter: 0.97 m (3.18 ft). Span: 0.97 m (3.18 ft). Length: 2.08 m (6.82 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: Pegasus-3. Status: In Production.

Stage 4. 1 x Pegasus-4. Gross Mass: 90 kg (198 lb). Empty Mass: 17 kg (37 lb). Thrust (vac): 666 N (149 lbf). Isp: 236 sec. Burn time: 241 sec. Diameter: 0.97 m (3.18 ft). Span: 0.97 m (3.18 ft). Length: 0.25 m (0.82 ft). Propellants: Hydrazine. No Engines: 3. Engine: MR-107. Status: In Production.

More at: Pegasus.

Subtopics

ALV American sounding rocket. Family of small low-cost all-solid-propellant launch vehicles, which use numerous off-the-shelf components and require minimal ground support

GBI American anti-ballistic missile. Suborbital booster for the US Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system's EKV ballistic missile kill vehicle. The basic OBV consisted of the upper three stages and guidance system from the Taurus orbital launch vehicle (essentially a wingless Pegasus-XL). The OBV was launched from an open pad; the operational version was to be silo-launched.

HXLV Variant of Pegasus air-dropped launch vehicle for suborbital tests of the X-43 scramjet test vehicle.

Hyper X American test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x NB-52 + 1 x Orion 50S

Pegasus H American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Four stage vehicle consisting of 1 x L-1011 + 1 x Orion 50S + 1 x Orion 50 + 1 x Orion 38

Pegasus XL American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Uprated version of Pegasus air-launched winged light satellite launcher. 4 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x L-1011 + 1 x Pegasus XL stage 1 + 1 x Orion 50XL + 1 x Orion 38.

Pegasus XL/HAPS American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. Five stage version consisting of 1 x L-1011 + 1 x Pegasus XL stage 1 + 1 x Orion 50XL + 1 x Orion 38 + 1 x HAPS

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

Family: aircraft-launched, orbital launch vehicle. Country: USA. Engines: MR-107, RB-211-22B. Spacecraft: GLOMR, Pegsat, REX, Microsat, Orbcomm, MSTI, CDS, SCD, ALEXIS, Eagle, APEX, Microstar, STEP, TOMS-EP, FAST, HETE, SAC-B, CPAC, Minisat, Orbview-2, FORTE, SNOE, Teledesic, TRACE, SWAS, WIRE, TERRIERS, SA-200, Orbview, HESSI, SORCE, Galex, SCISAT, DART, ST5, RS-300, C/NOFS, IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. Launch Sites: Point Arguello WADZ, Mayport DZ. Stages: NB-52, Pegasus-1, Pegasus-2, Pegasus-3. Agency: OSC. Bibliography: 2, 276, 279, 42, 455, 5, 552, 554, 6, 61, 8478, 12945.

Photo Gallery

Pegasus
Credit: © Mark Wade

1990 April 5 - . 19:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus.

Pegsat - . Payload: Pegsat / Orion 38. Mass: 178 kg (392 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Pegsat. Decay Date: 1998-11-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 20546 . COSPAR: 1990-028A. Apogee: 507 km (315 mi). Perigee: 401 km (249 mi). Inclination: 94.10 deg. Period: 93.70 min. Chemical release experiment. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

USA 55 - . Payload: GLOMR 2 / TERCEL / SECS. Mass: 25 kg (55 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: GLOMR. USAF Sat Cat: 20547 . COSPAR: 1990-028B. Apogee: 642 km (398 mi). Perigee: 477 km (296 mi). Inclination: 94.10 deg. Period: 95.90 min. Store and forward. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1991 July 17 - . 17:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus/HAPS. 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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 92.70 min. Test of LEO network for global communications. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1993 February 9 - . 14:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Mayport DZ. Launch Pad: 29.0 N x 78.3 W. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus.

Orbcomm OXP-1 - . Payload: Orbcomm CDS. Mass: 15 kg (33 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: CDS. USAF Sat Cat: 22489 . COSPAR: 1993-009A. Apogee: 794 km (493 mi). Perigee: 731 km (454 mi). Inclination: 25.00 deg. Period: 100.10 min. Experimental spacecraft. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). Air dropped in Mayport DZ..

SCD-1 - . Payload: SCD 1 / Orbcomm CDS. Mass: 115 kg (253 lb). Nation: Brazil. Agency: INPE. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: SCD. USAF Sat Cat: 22490 . COSPAR: 1993-009B. Apogee: 793 km (492 mi). Perigee: 729 km (452 mi). Inclination: 25.00 deg. Period: 100.10 min. Environmental data relay. The SCD-1 (Data Collection Satellite 1) was a Brazilian satellite designed for the collection of meteorological data relayed by data collection platforms spread throughout the Brazilian territory. Air dropped in Mayport DZ..

1993 April 25 - . 13:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus.

Alexis - . Payload: Alexis (P 89-1B). Mass: 115 kg (253 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: Alexis. USAF Sat Cat: 22638 . COSPAR: 1993-026A. Apogee: 746 km (463 mi). Perigee: 741 km (460 mi). Inclination: 69.80 deg. Period: 99.70 min. Test of X-ray imaging sensors; solar array deployment malfunction. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

Orbcomm OXP-2 - . Payload: VSUM. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 22639 . COSPAR: 1993-026B. Apogee: 843 km (524 mi). Perigee: 752 km (468 mi). Inclination: 69.92 deg. Period: 100.74 min. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1994 May 19 - . 17:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus/HAPS.

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: 82.00 deg. Period: 98.90 min. Did not achieve planned orbit, though still useful. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1994 June 27 - . 21:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. FAILURE: Destroyed on launch . Failed Stage: 1.

STEP 1 - . Payload: STEP M1 / P90-1. Mass: 180 kg (390 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Program: STEP. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft: Eagle. Apogee: 38 km (23 mi). Destroyed on launch Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1994 August 3 - . 14:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus.

P90-6 APEX - . Payload: APEX/Orion 38. Mass: 260 kg (570 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: PegaStar. Spacecraft: APEX. USAF Sat Cat: 23191 . COSPAR: 1994-046A. Apogee: 2,534 km (1,574 mi). Perigee: 360 km (220 mi). Inclination: 69.98 deg. Period: 114.82 min. Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronic Experiments; studied radiation and plasma effects on solar power systems. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1995 April 3 - . 13:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus H.

Orbcomm F1 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM1. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 23545 . COSPAR: 1995-017A. Apogee: 747 km (464 mi). Perigee: 728 km (452 mi). Inclination: 69.98 deg. Period: 99.56 min. Commercial communications testbed. Plane F. Ascending node 199.1 degrees. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

Orbcomm F2 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM2. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 23546 . COSPAR: 1995-017B. Apogee: 747 km (464 mi). Perigee: 728 km (452 mi). Inclination: 69.98 deg. Period: 99.56 min. Commercial communications testbed. Plane F. Ascending node 198.5 degrees. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

Orbview-1 - . Payload: Microlab 1. Mass: 74 kg (163 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbimage. Program: Orbview. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 23547 . COSPAR: 1995-017C. Apogee: 747 km (464 mi). Perigee: 733 km (455 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 99.60 min. Lightning mapper; GPS radio occultation. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1995 June 22 - . 19:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. FAILURE: Second stage failure; destroyed by range safety.. Failed Stage: 2.

STEP 3 - . Payload: STEP M3. Mass: 267 kg (588 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: STEP. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: STEP. Decay Date: 1995-06-22 . Apogee: 144 km (89 mi). Space Test Experiment Platform. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1996 March 9 - . 01:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

REX-II - . Mass: 85 kg (187 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Class: Earth. Type: Ionosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GemStar. Spacecraft: REX. USAF Sat Cat: 23814 . COSPAR: 1996-014A. Apogee: 835 km (518 mi). Perigee: 799 km (496 mi). Inclination: 90.00 deg. Period: 101.20 min. LEO Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1996 May 17 - . 02:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus H.

MSTI-3 - . Payload: MSTI 3. Mass: 170 kg (370 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: MSTI. Decay Date: 1997-12-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 23868 . COSPAR: 1996-031A. Apogee: 432 km (268 mi). Perigee: 420 km (260 mi). Inclination: 97.10 deg. Period: 90.70 min. LEO. Sensor technology tests Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1996 July 2 - . 07:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

TOMS-EP - . Mass: 248 kg (546 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: T100. Spacecraft: TOMS-EP. USAF Sat Cat: 23940 . COSPAR: 1996-037A. Apogee: 746 km (463 mi). Perigee: 705 km (438 mi). Inclination: 98.30 deg. Period: 99.30 min. LEO. Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer-Earth Probe; atmospheric ozone mapping. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1996 August 21 - . 09:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

FAST - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Small Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: FAST. USAF Sat Cat: 24285 . COSPAR: 1996-049A. Apogee: 4,163 km (2,586 mi). Perigee: 353 km (219 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 132.70 min. Second Small Explorer mission. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1996 November 4 - . 17:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. FAILURE: The rocket functioned perfectly but the separation system failed to release the payload.. Failed Stage: P.

HETE - . Mass: 124 kg (273 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: STEDI. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: HETE. Decay Date: 2002-04-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 24645 . COSPAR: 1996-061A. Apogee: 555 km (344 mi). Perigee: 487 km (302 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 95.00 min.
The High Energy Transient Experiment (HETE) was an international mission led by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its prime objective was to carry out the first multiwavelength study of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) with UV, X-ray, and gamma ray instruments. A unique feature of the mission was its capability to localise bursts with several arcsecond accuracy, in near real-time aboard the spacecraft. These positions were to be transmitted to the ground, and picked up by a global network of primary and secondary ground stations (SGS), enabling sensitive follow-up studies. However the satellite was never released from its payload fitting. Although signals were received, the solar panels could not deploy, and it went silent after a few days when its batteries ran down. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ.

SAC-B - . Nation: Argentina. Agency: CONAE. Program: SAC. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: SAC-B. Decay Date: 2002-04-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 24645 . COSPAR: 1996-061A. Apogee: 555 km (344 mi). Perigee: 487 km (302 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 95.00 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

1997 April 21 - . 11:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Gando. Launch Complex: Gran Canaria DZ. Launch Pad: 27.0 N x 15.3 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Minisat-01 - . Mass: 209 kg (460 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: INTA. Manufacturer: CASA. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Minisat. Decay Date: 2002-02-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 24779 . COSPAR: 1997-018A. Apogee: 580 km (360 mi). Perigee: 561 km (348 mi). Inclination: 151.00 deg. Period: 96.00 min. Minisat-01 carried the EURD extreme ultraviolet spectrograph to study interstellar gas, the LEGRI gamma ray burst detector, and the CPLM microacceleration in liquids experiment. Air dropped in Gran Canaria DZ..

Celestis - . Payload: CPAC. Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft: CPAC. Decay Date: 2002-05-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 24780 . COSPAR: 1997-018B. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 553 km (343 mi). Inclination: 151.00 deg. Period: 96.00 min. Air dropped in Gran Canaria DZ..

1997 August 1 - . 20:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Orbview-2 - . Payload: Seastar. Nation: USA. Agency: Orbimage. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbview. Class: Surveillance. Type: Civilian surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: PegaStar. Spacecraft: Orbview-2. USAF Sat Cat: 24883 . COSPAR: 1997-037A. Apogee: 708 km (439 mi). Perigee: 707 km (439 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 98.90 min. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1997 August 29 - . 15:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

FORTE - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Manufacturer: Los Alamos. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: FORTE. USAF Sat Cat: 24920 . COSPAR: 1997-047A. Apogee: 833 km (517 mi). Perigee: 799 km (496 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 101.20 min.
FORTE - 'Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events' - was a US Los Alamos National Laboratory satellite designed to study natural and artificial radio emissions from the ionosphere. This data was needed to develop technology for monitoring nuclear test ban treaties. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

1997 October 22 - . 13:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

STEP-4 - . Payload: STEP M4. Mass: 180 kg (390 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Program: STEP. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft: Eagle. Decay Date: 2001-03-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 25013 . COSPAR: 1997-063A. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Perigee: 432 km (268 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 93.80 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

1997 December 23 - . 19:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

Orbcomm A1 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM5. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25112 . COSPAR: 1997-084A. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 812 km (504 mi). Inclination: 45.03 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 297.7 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A7 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM11. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25118 . COSPAR: 1997-084G. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 301.2 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A8 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM12. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25119 . COSPAR: 1997-084H. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 812 km (504 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 301.2 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A5 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM9. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25116 . COSPAR: 1997-084E. Apogee: 822 km (510 mi). Perigee: 814 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 301 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A6 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM10. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25117 . COSPAR: 1997-084F. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 812 km (504 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 301.2 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A2 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM6. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25113 . COSPAR: 1997-084B. Apogee: 822 km (510 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.03 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 300.7 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A4 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM8. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25115 . COSPAR: 1997-084D. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 300.5 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm A3 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM7. Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25114 . COSPAR: 1997-084C. Apogee: 822 km (510 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.03 deg. Period: 101.26 min. Plane A. Ascending node 301 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

1998 February 26 - . 07:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

SNOE - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Manufacturer: Colorado. Program: STEDI. Class: Earth. Type: Seismology satellite. Spacecraft: SNOE. Decay Date: 2003-12-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 25233 . COSPAR: 1998-012A. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 529 km (328 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 95.80 min.
SNOE, the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer. Small satellite built by the University of Colorado to measure the Nitric Oxide density as a function of altitude. First satellite in the STEDI (Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative) program. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

Teledesic 1 - . Payload: BATSAT. Nation: USA. Agency: Teledesic. Manufacturer: Germantown. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Teledesic. Decay Date: 2000-10-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 25234 . COSPAR: 1998-012B. Apogee: 577 km (358 mi). Perigee: 532 km (330 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 95.70 min. Communications Technology Demonstrator. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

1998 April 2 - . 02:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

TRACE - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Small Explorer. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft: TRACE. USAF Sat Cat: 25280 . COSPAR: 1998-020A. Apogee: 652 km (405 mi). Perigee: 602 km (374 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 97.10 min.
NASA's third Small Explorer, the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE), was successfully launched by an Orbital Pegasus XL. The L-1011 carrier aircraft took off from Vandenberg and dropped the Pegasus over the Pacific Ocean. TRACE, a project led by Lockheed's solar physics group, carried a 30-cm extreme ultraviolet imaging telescope which will study the Sun. The telescope mirrors were made by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. TRACE had an 8.5 arcmin field of view and 1 arcsecond resolution. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

1998 August 2 - . 16:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

Orbcomm B5 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM17. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25413 . COSPAR: 1998-046A. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 61 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B8 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM20. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25416 . COSPAR: 1998-046D. Apogee: 826 km (513 mi). Perigee: 811 km (503 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 61.2 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B1 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM13. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25420 . COSPAR: 1998-046H. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane B. Ascending node 60.4 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B2 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM14. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25419 . COSPAR: 1998-046G. Apogee: 826 km (513 mi). Perigee: 811 km (503 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 60.4 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B4 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM16. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25417 . COSPAR: 1998-046E. Apogee: 825 km (512 mi). Perigee: 812 km (504 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 59.9 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B7 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM19. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25415 . COSPAR: 1998-046C. Apogee: 828 km (514 mi). Perigee: 809 km (502 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 61.1 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B6 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM18. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25414 . COSPAR: 1998-046B. Apogee: 827 km (513 mi). Perigee: 810 km (500 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 59.7 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm B3 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM15. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25418 . COSPAR: 1998-046F. Apogee: 825 km (512 mi). Perigee: 812 km (504 mi). Inclination: 45.01 deg. Period: 101.28 min. Plane B. Ascending node 60 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

1998 September 23 - . 05:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

Orbcomm C1 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM21. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25475 . COSPAR: 1998-053A. Apogee: 825 km (512 mi). Perigee: 811 km (503 mi). Inclination: 45.01 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.6 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C7 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM27. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25481 . COSPAR: 1998-053G. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.6 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C5 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM25. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25479 . COSPAR: 1998-053E. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.01 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.5 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C8 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM28. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25482 . COSPAR: 1998-053H. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.03 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.7 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C6 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM26. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25480 . COSPAR: 1998-053F. Apogee: 825 km (512 mi). Perigee: 811 km (503 mi). Inclination: 45.01 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.5 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C3 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM23. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25477 . COSPAR: 1998-053C. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.8 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C2 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM22. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25476 . COSPAR: 1998-053B. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 814 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.02 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 178 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm C4 - . Payload: Orbcomm s/n FM24. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25478 . COSPAR: 1998-053D. Apogee: 822 km (510 mi). Perigee: 814 km (505 mi). Inclination: 45.01 deg. Period: 101.27 min. Plane C. Ascending node 181.7 degrees. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

1998 October 23 - . 00:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Mayport DZ. Launch Pad: 29.0 N x 78.3 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus H.

SCD-2 - . Mass: 110 kg (240 lb). Nation: Brazil. Agency: McLean. Manufacturer: INPE. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: SCD. USAF Sat Cat: 25504 . COSPAR: 1998-060A. Apogee: 760 km (470 mi). Perigee: 736 km (457 mi). Inclination: 25.00 deg. Period: 99.80 min.
Brazil's SCD-2 satellite was aboard Orbital Science's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft when it took off from the Cape Canaveral Air Station's Skid Strip (Runway 02/20, 28.2N 80.6W) at 23:05 GMT on Oct 22 and flew to the drop zone near Cape Canaveral (in the Mayport, Florida, Warning Area) at 29.0N 78.3W. The Pegasus ignited 5 seconds after drop. The first stage carried a NASA experiment attached to its right wing, to study hypersonic boundary layer separation. The 115 kg Satelite de Coleta de Dados (Data Collection Satellite) relays data from environmental monitoring stations. Air dropped in Mayport DZ.

1998 December 6 - . 00:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

SWAS - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Small Explorer. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: SWAS. USAF Sat Cat: 25560 . COSPAR: 1998-071A. Apogee: 611 km (379 mi). Perigee: 599 km (372 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 96.80 min.
On December 3 the Orbital Sciences L-1011 Stargazer took off from Vandenberg AFB Runway 30/12 carrying a Pegasus XL launch vehicle with the SWAS satellite aboard. It reached the drop box at 36.0N 123.0W over the Pacific, but due to a software-related problem the range ordered the launch scrubbed and the L-1011 returned to base. After a further delay due to weather, the L-1011 took off at 23:58 GMT on December 5 and SWAS reached orbit and separated from the third stage at 01:09 GMT. SWAS, the Sub-millimetre Wave Astronomy Satellite, had a 0.6m telescope with a 490 to 550 GHz sub-millimetre receiver and an acousto-optical spectrometer. SWAS was used to study the cooling of molecular cloud cores, the sites of star formation in our galaxy, by measuring lines from molecular oxygen and water. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

1999 March 5 - . 02:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

WIRE - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: WIRE. Decay Date: 2011-05-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 25646 . COSPAR: 1999-011A. Apogee: 582 km (361 mi). Perigee: 537 km (333 mi). Inclination: 97.50 deg.
NASA's long-delayed WIRE (Wide Field Infrared Explorer) astronomy satellite was the fifth Small Explorer (SMEX) mission managed by NASA-Goddard. The L-1011 Stargazer launch aircraft took off from Vandenberg's runway 30/12 at 01:55 GMT on March 2 for the first launch attempt. The planned 02:56 GMT launch was cancelled at T-46 seconds due to a problem with the tail fin release mechanism of the Pegasus XL launch vehicle. The second attempt was successful, with the Pegaus XL being dropped at 36 degrees N x 123 degrees W over the Pacific Ocean at 02:56 GMT. However the WIRE ran into serious trouble shortly after orbit injection. The cover of the solid hydrogen telescope ejected prematurely, and the cryogenic coolant evaporated and vented, spinning the satellite out of control. WIRE was going to make an infrared photometry survey, generating a large catalog of galaxies and quasars. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

1999 May 18 - . 05:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

TERRIERS - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Manufacturer: AeroAstro. Class: Technology. Type: Military technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: HETE. Spacecraft: TERRIERS. USAF Sat Cat: 25735 . COSPAR: 1999-026A. Apogee: 493 km (306 mi). Perigee: 484 km (300 mi). Inclination: 97.10 deg. Period: 94.40 min.
TERRIERS was part of NASA's Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative (STEDI), which was a precursor program to the UNEX (University Explorer) series. STEDI was managed by USRA (the Universities Space Research Association) for NASA, while UNEX was to be more directly managed by NASA-GSFC. TERRIERS was to be operated by the space physics group at Boston University for ionosphere studies, and carried TESS, a set of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrographs to get electron density and thermosphere emission profiles. The GISSMO instrument measured the solar EUV flux. The spacecraft was built by AeroAstro and based on HETE. TERRIERS was placed in the correct orbit, but it failed to orient its solar panel to the Sun and ran out of battery power by May 20. Controllers were optimistic that when its orbit processes to a better sun angle the satellite could be revived. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ. Additional Details: here....

MUBLCOM - . Mass: 43 kg (94 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Manufacturer: Germantown. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25736 . COSPAR: 1999-026B. Apogee: 745 km (462 mi). Perigee: 738 km (458 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 99.70 min.
After deploying the TERRIERS satellite, the conical Payload Adapter Fitting (1998-26E) was jettisoned at 05:21 GMT, leaving the disk-shaped MUBLCOM satellite attached to the Pegasus XL PRIMEX HAPS-Lite stage. The second HAPS burn at 05:22 GMT raised apogee to 775 km, followed by a third, apogee burn at 06:10 GMT which circularised the orbit. MUBLCOM was deployed to a 769 km x 776 km x 97.7 degree orbit. The final HAPS burn then placed the depleted HAPS stage in a lower 388 km x 722 km x 97.1 degree disposal orbit. MUBLCOM (Multiple beam Beyond Line-of-sight Communications) was an experimental satellite funded by DARPA and managed by the US Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) at Ft Monmouth, New Jersey. It was built by Orbital Sciences using the Microstar (Orbcomm type) bus and carries a payload testing hand-held radio satellite communications for the armed forces.
Six years later MUBLCOM was the target for the DART Autonomous Rendezvous Technology mission. On April 16, 2005, DART closed within 100 m of MUBLCOM satellite, then evidently began a series of out-of-control maneuvers resulting in an in-space collission and MUBLCOM being bumped into a 3 to 5 km higher orbit. DART was deorbited while MUBLCOM, still functioned, continued on in space. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

1999 December 4 - . 18:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island DZ. Launch Pad: RW04/22. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

Orbcomm FM30 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25980 . COSPAR: 1999-065A. Apogee: 798 km (495 mi). Perigee: 790 km (490 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Seven Orbcomms launched, rather than eight as on previous flights. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM35 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25985 . COSPAR: 1999-065F. Apogee: 797 km (495 mi). Perigee: 791 km (491 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM36 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25986 . COSPAR: 1999-065G. Apogee: 797 km (495 mi). Perigee: 790 km (490 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM34 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25984 . COSPAR: 1999-065E. Apogee: 795 km (493 mi). Perigee: 792 km (492 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM32 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25982 . COSPAR: 1999-065C. Apogee: 798 km (495 mi). Perigee: 788 km (489 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM31 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25981 . COSPAR: 1999-065B. Apogee: 798 km (495 mi). Perigee: 790 km (490 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

Orbcomm FM33 - . Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbcomm. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Orbcomm. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MicroStar. Spacecraft: Orbcomm. USAF Sat Cat: 25983 . COSPAR: 1999-065D. Apogee: 793 km (492 mi). Perigee: 780 km (480 mi). Inclination: 45.00 deg. Period: 100.60 min. Air dropped in Wallops Island DZ..

2000 June 7 - . 13:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

TSX 5 - . Payload: P95-2. Mass: 247 kg (544 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Manufacturer: McLean. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: STEP. USAF Sat Cat: 26374 . COSPAR: 2000-030A. Apogee: 1,695 km (1,053 mi). Perigee: 412 km (256 mi). Inclination: 68.94 deg. Period: 106.19 min.
Military Technology satellite. Launch delayed from May 20 and June 6. Fifth STEP (Space Test Experiments Program) satellite. The satellite's main section was the STRV-2 experiment module, sponsored by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the UK Ministry of Defense. This was to take infrared images of UK military aircraft at perigee, and then downlink data via laser. STRV-2 also carried vibration isolation and debris impact sensors. A secondary payload was the S97-1 CEASE (Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor). This was an AFRL prototype sensor package to provide warning of spacecraft charging and radiation events. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2000 October 9 - . 05:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein DZ. Launch Pad: RW06/24. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus H.

HETE-2 - . Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Manufacturer: MIT. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: HETE. USAF Sat Cat: 26561 . COSPAR: 2000-061A. Apogee: 641 km (399 mi). Perigee: 598 km (372 mi). Inclination: 1.95 deg. Period: 97.02 min.
First orbital launch from Kwajalein. Second High Energy Transient Explorer; built by MIT using leftover parts from the first HETE. This failed to operate because of a Pegasus adapter failure during launch in November 1996. MIT operates the satellite, while the program is managed by NASA GSFC as an Explorer mission of opportunity. HETE's main instrument is FREGATE, the French Gamma Telescope, a hard X-ray spectrometer operating in the 6 to 400 keV energy range. This gamma ray burst detector, together with a Wide Field X-ray Monitor hard X-ray coded mask telescope, is used to trigger searches with the two Soft X-ray Imagers which have 33-arcsecond spatial resolution. This will let astronomers get precise locations for gamma-ray bursts, allowing detailed follow-up with optical instruments. The satellite is in a 595 x 636 km x 2.0 deg equatorial orbit, and sends data to a network of small ground terminals spaced around the equator. Air dropped in Kwajalein DZ.

2001 June 2 - . 20:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Hyper X. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: 1.

X-43A test - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Apogee: 7.00 km (4.30 mi).
Hypersonic scramjet vehicle test. The X-43A/Pegasus booster combination was air-launched at 7600 m altitude. However the booster disintegrated at Max-Q. The redesign of the launch profile and modifications to the booster would take NASA almost three years. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2002 February 5 - . 20:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Mayport DZ. Launch Pad: 29.0 N x 78.5 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

HESSI - . Payload: SA-200S. Mass: 449 kg (989 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: HESSI. USAF Sat Cat: 27370 . COSPAR: 2002-004A. Apogee: 599 km (372 mi). Perigee: 574 km (356 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 96.40 min.
HESSI, the sixth Small Explorer, carried a rotating modulation collimator transform telescope, imaging solar flares in the hard X-ray spectrum. The launch marked the return to flight of Pegasus after the Hyper-X failure. The launch was originally to have occurred on 28 March 2001. The L-1011 launch aircraft took off at 19:29 GMT from the Cape Canaveral Skid Strip RW30/12, and headed out to the drop area at 28.0 N 78.5 W over the Atlantic. Drop of the Pegasus in the Atlantic Drop Zone at 28.0 N 78.5 W was at 20:58 GMT, with ignition 5 seconds later. The Pegasus reached orbit at 21:07 GMT. On the first pass it was confirmed that the solar panels had opened.
The satellite rotated at 15 rpm, imaging by reconstructing the Fourier components from the time modulation of the solar x-ray flux through a set of 9 grids each 9 cm in diameter. It was expected to make images with a resolution of 2 arcseconds at 40 keV energies and 36 arcseconds at 1 MeV energies. The launch delays meant that HESSI missed some of the best flares at solar max. Air dropped in Mayport DZ.

2003 January 25 - . 20:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Mayport DZ. Launch Pad: 29.0 N x 78.5 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

SORCE - . Payload: Solstice/SAVE. Mass: 268 kg (590 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft Bus: LEOStar-2. Spacecraft: SORCE. USAF Sat Cat: 27651 . COSPAR: 2003-004A. Apogee: 657 km (408 mi). Perigee: 617 km (384 mi). Inclination: 39.99 deg. Period: 97.31 min. Solar irradiance monitoring, climatology mission. Launch delayed from December 1 and 13, 2002. Air dropped in Mayport DZ..

2003 February 6 - . 21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

BV-6 Boost Vehicle Test Flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,810 km (1,120 mi).
Successful first launch of the prototype of the three-stage version of the Taurus launch vehicle being developed by Orbital Sciences for Boeing for use in the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The vehicle launched the dummy payload on a trajectory over the Pacific Ocean, reaching an altitude of 2100 km and traveling 6500 km down range.

2003 April 28 - . 12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Mayport DZ. Launch Pad: 29.0 N x 78.5 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Galex - . Mass: 280 kg (610 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Astronomy. Type: Ultraviolet astronomy satellite. Spacecraft Bus: LEOStar-2. Spacecraft: Galex. Duration: 3,710.00 days. USAF Sat Cat: 27783 . COSPAR: 2003-017A. Apogee: 699 km (434 mi). Perigee: 694 km (431 mi). Inclination: 29.00 deg. Period: 98.70 min.
Ultraviolet space telescope. Much delayed launch (from January 19, May 19, July 16, 21 and 30, August 14 and October 17, 2002; January 27, March 25 and 30, April 15 and 26 2003). It was finally switched off on 28 June 2013, following an extra tenth year of observing funded by Caltech. Air dropped in Mayport DZ.

2003 June 26 - . 18:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Orbview 3 - . Mass: 304 kg (670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: McLean. Program: Orbview. Class: Earth. Type: Earth resources satellite. Spacecraft Bus: LEOStar. Spacecraft: Orbview. Decay Date: 2011-03-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 27838 . COSPAR: 2003-030A. Apogee: 455 km (282 mi). Perigee: 452 km (280 mi). Inclination: 97.30 deg. Period: 93.70 min.
One-meter-resolution commercial imaging satellite. Orbview-3 used an Orbital Leostar bus and had a launch mass of 304 kg (including ca. 50 kg of hydrazine for orbit raising and the 66 kg science instrument). Launch had been delayed from September 2002, April 30, May 9 and 23 Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2003 August 13 - . 02:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Scisat 1 - . Mass: 260 kg (570 lb). Nation: Canada. Agency: CSA. Class: Earth. Type: Ionosphere satellite. Spacecraft: SCISAT. USAF Sat Cat: 27858 . COSPAR: 2003-036A. Apogee: 654 km (406 mi). Perigee: 642 km (398 mi). Inclination: 73.90 deg. Period: 97.70 min.
Canadian Space Agency spacecraft which carried the ACE-FTS spectrometer to study the chemistry of the upper troposphere and stratosphere and the MAESTRO instrument to study ozone and aerosol levels in the atmosphere. Originally to have launched June 25, 2002. Delayed five more times. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2003 August 16 - . 18:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

BV-6 Missile Defense Interceptor Booster test. - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,874 km (1,164 mi).
The Orbital Sciences Corperation booster was successfully tested with a mock EKV after a one-day launch delay. Shock and vibration environments were measured and compared to previous test levels. Preliminary analyses suggest that the new booster produced lower than expected vibrations at the EKV.

2004 January 27 - . 02:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

IFT-13B [EKV Mock-up] test - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 272 km (169 mi).
Launch delayed from October 2003. This system-level test of the Orbital Sciences' boost vehicle launched the rocket carrying a simulated EKV from Kwajalein Atoll against a simulated target coming from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. IFT-13B was not an intercept attempt. Included in this test was the latest version of the GMD program's fire control software, which was being built by Northrop Grumman and which performed as expected in this test.

2004 March 27 - . 21:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Hyper X.

X-43A-2 (Hyper X) - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Apogee: 29 km (18 mi).
The second X-43 launch incorporated modifications to the first flight vehicle, including an upgraded control system, redesigned autopilot, off-loaded rocket motor, and improved analytical models. The second flight was launched at 12,200 m instead of the 7600 m altitude of the failed first launch to reduce transonic aerodynamic loads and improve structural and control system margins. An offloaded Orion 50S solid rocket motor reduced maximum dynamic pressure during the flight. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2004 July 22 - . Launch Site: Fort Greely. Launch Complex: Fort Greely. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

First GBI Deployment at Fort Greely - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The first Ground-Based Interceptor was lowered into a silo at Fort Greely, Alaska. Five additional interceptors were to be deployed in Alaska by the end of September..

2004 November 11 - . Launch Site: Fort Greely. Launch Complex: Fort Greely. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

GBI Deployment at Fort Greely - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The sixth ballistic missile interceptor was installed in its silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, two months behind the mid-year schedule. An additional eight to ten were to be emplaced in 2005, for a total of 14-16..

2004 November 16 - . 22:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Edwards.. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Hyper X.

X-43A test - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Apogee: 33 km (20 mi).
Delayed from September, November 9 and 15. Final test of NASA's X-43A-3 Hyper X hypersonic scramjet demonstrated air-frame integrated scramjet performance at speeds approaching Mach 10. Changes to the launch vehicle compared to Flight 2 included high-temperature thermal protection system tiles on the wing and fin leading edge, elimination of all ballast, a full propellant load on the ATK Orion 50S booster, lightweight aluminum structures, and updated control laws and aerodynamics. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2004 December 10 - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

GBI Deployment at Vandenberg - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The first of two operational anti-ballistic missiles to be deployed during 2005 at Vandenberg AFB was lowered into its underground silo. This marked the first installation in the continental United States..

2004 December 15 - . 06:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI. FAILURE: Launch abort; anti-ballistic missile never left silo..

IFT-13C Launch Abort - . Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC.
Launch abort - booster shut down in silo. Missile target, launched from Alaska, impacted in Pacific Ocean. Delayed from January, August, November, December 9 and 12. The failed attempt was later said to be due to a very minor software glitch which created a gap in the flow of electronic messages between the flight computer and the interceptor's thrust vector controller. Five flight tests of the system were scheduled for 2005, including at least two attempted intercepts. The IFT-13c test was expected to be repeated as early as mid-February. IFT-14 was planned for March or April.

2005 February 17 - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI. FAILURE: Launch abort - booster shut down in silo..

IFT-14 launch attempt. - . Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC.
Delayed from October 2004. Missile Defense Technology / EKV Prototype planned intercept attempt. The interceptor failed to leave the silo. As in IFT-13C, Orbital Sciences' booster, carrying Raytheon's production kill vehicle, was supposed to fly from Kwajalein and hit a target coming out of Kodiak, Alaska. The system shut itself down just a few seconds before launch. Arms that held the interceptor in the silo did not fully retract, and the launch software aborted the mission. MDA failure analysis resulted in a redesign of the launch mechanism and improved quality control.

2005 April 15 - . 17:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.

DART - . Mass: 360 kg (790 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Technology. Type: Rendezvous technology satellite. Spacecraft: DART. Decay Date: 2016-05-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 28642 . COSPAR: 2005-014A. Apogee: 747 km (464 mi). Perigee: 395 km (245 mi). Inclination: 96.60 deg. Period: 96.10 min.
Delayed from April 15; October 18, 19, 26, 28; Nov. 4, 9 and 11; 2004, and March 2, 2005. Autonomous Rendezvous Technology mission, planned to guide itself to within a few metres of a US satellite. On April 16, DART closed within 100 m of the MUBLCOM satellite, then evidently began a series of out-of-control maneuvers resulting in an in-space collission and MUBLCOM being bumped into a 3 to 5 km higher orbit. Remarkably both satellites continued to function. DART then detected that it was running unexpectedly low on nitrogen cold gas used for orientation. Its autonomous software aborted further rendezvous operations and the DART was deorbited shortly thereafter. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2005 December 14 - . 03:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FT-1 EKV Prototype ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Launch delayed from late 2004. Successful test of hit-to-kill anti-ballistic missile homer, although no target was intercepted..

2006 March 22 - . 14:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

ST5-A - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: ST5. USAF Sat Cat: 28980 . COSPAR: 2006-008A. Apogee: 4,539 km (2,820 mi). Perigee: 302 km (187 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min.
Space Technology 5 was one of NASA's New Millenium Program projects. It consisted of three small spacecraft, each a half meter in each dimension, with a small extensible magnetometer boom. Study of the magnetosphere was however secondary to the Nanosat Constellation Trailblazer technology mission. This was to demonstrate fully functional nanosatellites, which included a cold gas microthruster and miniaturized telemetry/command and power systems. The Pegasus rocket was dropped from the L-1011 carrier aircraft over the Pacific at 123 deg W x 36 deg N. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

ST5-B - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: ST5. USAF Sat Cat: 28981 . COSPAR: 2006-008B. Apogee: 4,540 km (2,820 mi). Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

ST5-C - . Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: ST5. USAF Sat Cat: 28982 . COSPAR: 2006-008C. Apogee: 4,539 km (2,820 mi). Perigee: 303 km (188 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

2006 September 1 - . 17:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FT-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2007 April 25 - . 20:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

AIM - . Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Hampton, NASA. Manufacturer: Ball, OSC. Spacecraft: RS-300. USAF Sat Cat: 31304 . COSPAR: 2007-015A. Apogee: 602 km (374 mi). Perigee: 584 km (362 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 96.50 min.
NASA Small Explorer mission, for Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere. AIM carried three scientific instruments to study polar mesospheric clouds: a solar occultation camera, an ultraviolet imager, and a cosmic dust experiment. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.

2007 September 28 - . 20:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FTG-03a - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2008 April 16 - . 17:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Pad: RW06/24. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

C/NOFS - . Mass: 395 kg (870 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: McLean. Class: Earth. Type: Seismology satellite. Spacecraft: C/NOFS. Decay Date: 2015-11-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 32765 . COSPAR: 2008-017A. Apogee: 852 km (529 mi). Perigee: 405 km (251 mi). Inclination: 13.00 deg. Period: 97.30 min.
The C/NOFS (Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) satellite flew the US Defence Department's Space Test Program P00-3 space weather forecasting mission. The L-1011 launch aircraft staged from Kwajalein atoll to a release point for the Pegasus booster somewhere over the Pacific at 10.5229 N 167.7562 E. The research satellite carring ionospheric instruments, including Aerospace Corporation's CORISS receiver which used GPS signals to determine electron densities in the ionosphere, and the Naval Research Laboratory's CERTO ionospheric radio beacon. The spacecraft was built by General Dynamics C4 Systems (former Spectrum Astro) and was managed by DoD-STP and the Air Force Research Lab. The objective was to provide data that would allow better forecasts of ionospheric scintillation which causes problems with communications and GPS signals. The satellite deployed six 10-meter booms after release from the final booster stage. Air dropped in Kwajalein Drop Zone.

2008 August 22 - . 09:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0B. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: ALV. FAILURE: Went off course and destroyed by range safety 27 seconds after launch..

HyBolt/SOAREX-VI - . Nation: USA. Agency: Clemson. Class: Technology. Apogee: 3.50 km (2.10 mi). Carried HyBOLT and SOAREX-VI hypersonic research experiments..

2008 October 19 - . 17:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein DZ. Launch Pad: RW06/24. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

IBEX - . Mass: 107 kg (235 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: Microstar. USAF Sat Cat: 33401 . COSPAR: 2008-051A. Apogee: 281,252 km (174,761 mi). Perigee: 69,563 km (43,224 mi). Inclination: 19.23 deg. Period: 12,855.81 min. Interstellar Boundary Explorer. Mission was to map, from its high earth orbit, the boundary of the heliosphere, the point at the limits of the solar system where the solar wind is overcome by the interstellar medium. Air dropped in Kwajalein DZ..

2008 December 5 - . 20:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

MDA FTG-05 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Military. Type: ABM.

2010 January 31 - . 23:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FTG-06 EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Interceptor.

2010 June 6 - . 22:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

BVT-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Test launch.

2010 December 15 - . 20:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

GMD FTG-06a - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

FTG-06A KV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM test..

2012 June 13 - . 16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein DZ. Launch Pad: RW06/24. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

Nustar - . Payload: Leostar. Mass: 360 kg (790 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 38358 . COSPAR: 2012-031A. Apogee: 632 km (392 mi). Perigee: 614 km (381 mi). Inclination: 6.00 deg. Period: 97.20 min. Hard X-ray observatory with ten-meter mast. Air dropped in Kwajalein Drop Zone..

2013 January 26 - . 22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

EKV CTV-01 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM test of CE-II EKV kill vehicle..

2013 June 28 - . 02:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

IRIS - . Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft: IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. USAF Sat Cat: 39197 . COSPAR: 2013-033A. Apogee: 663 km (411 mi). Perigee: 622 km (386 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg. Period: 97.56 min.
NASA Small Explorer program; the IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph was designed to obtain high resolution (0.3 arcseconds) high cadence (1 second intervals) imaging and spectra of the sun with its 20-cm telescope, in two far-UV bands (1332-1358A, 1380-1406A) and one near-UV band (2785-2835A). Air dropped in Point Mugu Drop Zone.

2013 July 5 - . 18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FTG-07 CE-I EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Anti-ballistic missile. Failure; did not intercept target vehicle..

2014 June 22 - . 18:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

GMD FTG-06b CE-II EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2016 January 28 - . 21:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

CE-II CTV-02+ - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM Interceptor mission. Impacted in E Pacific..

2016 December 15 - . 13:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW31/13. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.

CYGNSS A - . Payload: CYGFM01. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41887 . COSPAR: 2016-078D. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg. Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System for NASA's Earth Science Division. The constellation of small satellites will investigate air-sea interactions that take place in the core of the storms..

CYGNSS B - . Payload: CYGFM02. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41886 . COSPAR: 2016-078C. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS C - . Payload: CYGFM03. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41891 . COSPAR: 2016-078H. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS D - . Payload: CYGFM04. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41885 . COSPAR: 2016-078B. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS E - . Payload: CYGFM05. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41884 . COSPAR: 2016-078A. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS F - . Payload: CYGFM06. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41889 . COSPAR: 2016-078F. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS G - . Payload: CYGFM07. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41890 . COSPAR: 2016-078G. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

CYGNSS H - . Payload: CYGFM08. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: CYGNSS. USAF Sat Cat: 41888 . COSPAR: 2016-078E. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Perigee: 515 km (320 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg.

2017 May 30 - . 19:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.

FTG-15 - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Interceptor. FTG-15 intercept..

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