Tag: Pegasus
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Stratolaunch announces plan to fly with Pegasus rockets
An artist’s concept of Stratolaunch’s carrier aircraft with three Pegasus rockets. Credit: Stratolaunch Systems Stratolaunch Systems, a company backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, will launch Pegasus XL rockets produced by Orbital ATK from the world’s largest airplane as officials shift focus toward deploying lighter satellites into orbit. Stratolaunch and Orbital ATK announced the “production-based”…
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Get in touch with the stratosphere through Microsoft’s Pegasus II balloon mission
The sun shines above the clouds in a view captured by the Pegasus I balloon experiment. (Credit: MIcrosoft Research) How high can the Internet of Things go? Microsoft Research plans to extend the IoT into the stratosphere with its Pegasus II high-altitude balloon experiment, and you’re invited to take a virtual ride. The mission was scheduled…
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Pegasus barge completes refits for SLS transportation role
NASA’s veteran Pegasus barge – used to transport Space Shuttle External Tanks from Louisiana to Florida – has completed refit operations in Louisiana for its critical role in transporting the massive core stage of the new SLS rocket from its production facility in Louisiana to various NASA locations throughout the southern United States. Shuttle operations:…
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Photo: New Orbital ATK paint job for Pegasus carrier jet
Credit: Orbital ATK The aircraft that air-launches the Pegasus rocket has been repainted with new livery to mark the recent corporate merge that formed Orbital ATK. The L-1011 jet, named Stargazer, carries the light-class Pegasus launchers to an altitude of 39,000 feet and releases the booster to fire into space. Pegasus has flown 42 times…
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Pegasus celebrates quarter of a century milestone
In an era of new launch system development, Orbital ATK’s Pegasus has shown her staying power, passing the milestone of 25 years of operation. The air-launch system will continue to provide a unique role until at least 2017 and her heritage may also live on as part of the Stratolaunch system that is currently under…
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Super Sizing Pegasus for SLS core transport
The famous Pegasus Barge is nearing the end of its jumboisation phase, as work continues to prepare it for a role in transporting the massive Space Launch System (SLS) stages from their birth place the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF). The upgraded Pegasus is set to transport the first major SLS hardware from New Orleans to…
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Pegasus rocket selected to launch ICON satellite
File photo of a Pegasus XL rocket launch from June 2013. Credit: NASA TV NASA has selected an Orbital Sciences Corp. air-launched Pegasus XL rocket to place a small research satellite in orbit in 2017 to study the connection between Earth’s weather and space weather, the space agency announced Thursday. The Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or…
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Pegasus Barge to begin renovations for SLS core shipping
NASA’s famous Pegasus Barge – best known for transporting External Tanks from the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) – is about to be handed over to a contractor for the modifications that will allow it to transport Space Launch System (SLS) Cores to Florida. The modifications will include the barge…
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Orbital sign up ATK for solid partnership with Stratolaunch ALV
ATK are now officially on board with the Stratolaunch system, following a deal with the launch vehicle’s main partner, Orbital Sciences Corporation. ATK will provide the first and second stages for the vehicle – nicknamed Pegasus II – that will be air-launched from a huge carrier plane, with test flights set to begin as early…
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Stratolaunch and Orbital – The Height of Air Launch
New details into the Stratolaunch system have revealed an exciting pairing of a huge carrier aircraft and a highly capable Orbital rocket nicknamed Pegasus II. The “Any Time, Any Orbit” air-launch system will be capable of lofting payloads up to 13,500 lbs to Low Earth Orbit. Stratolaunch: Stratolaunch was founded by inventor, investor and…