Pegasus
Description
Pegasus is an air-launched rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation and now built and launched by Northrop Grumman. 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. Notably, the first stage does not have a Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system. Pegasus is the world's first privately developed space launch vehicle.
Missions
45
Success Rate
91.1%
Successes
40
Failures
3
Success Streak
31
Partial Failures
2
Next Up
Swift Rescue Mission
Previous
Odyssey (TacRL-2)
ICON
Configurations
Pegasus XL/HAPS
Active Since 1997
Price
$40.00 million
Rocket
Height: 17.6m
Liftoff Thrust
561 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 1.15m
Height: 2.13m
Stages
4
Pegasus XL
Active Since 1994
Price
$40.00 million
Rocket
Height: 17.6m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 443 kg
Liftoff Thrust
561 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 1.15m
Height: 2.13m
Stages
4
Pegasus/HAPS
Active 1991 to 1994
Price
$40.00 million
Rocket
Height: 16.9m
Liftoff Thrust
487 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 1.15m
Height: 2.13m
Stages
4
Pegasus
Active 1990 to 2000
Price
$40.00 million
Rocket
Height: 16.9m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 375 kg
Liftoff Thrust
487 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 1.15m
Height: 2.13m
Stages
3
Launch Sites
Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, Marshall Islands
Fastest Turnaround
186 days
Base Aerea de Gando, Gran Canaria