Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Another Successful Pegasus Launch
Full disclosure: I work at Orbital Sciences.
After a slight glitch a few days ago, one of Orbital Science's Pegasus rockets was successfully launched today. The rocket contained three small satellites which are used to measure the earth's magnetic field as part of NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST5) program.
Since the launch was at mid-morning, we weren't treated to the light show we got with the twilight launch of the Minotaur a few months ago.
Rather than being launched from the ground, the Pegasus, which has wings (get it?) is carried to launch altitude by an L-1011, which essentially acts as its first stage. The Pegasus is then dropped from the aircraft at which point the motor ignites, lifting the rocket into space.
After a slight glitch a few days ago, one of Orbital Science's Pegasus rockets was successfully launched today. The rocket contained three small satellites which are used to measure the earth's magnetic field as part of NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST5) program.
Since the launch was at mid-morning, we weren't treated to the light show we got with the twilight launch of the Minotaur a few months ago.
Rather than being launched from the ground, the Pegasus, which has wings (get it?) is carried to launch altitude by an L-1011, which essentially acts as its first stage. The Pegasus is then dropped from the aircraft at which point the motor ignites, lifting the rocket into space.
