# Pegasus

> air-launched rocket

**Wikidata**: [Q478603](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q478603)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Pegasus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pegasus

## Summary
Pegasus is an American air-launched rocket family designed as an expendable launch vehicle for deploying satellites into space. Developed starting in 1987, it is released from a carrier aircraft before igniting its engines, serving as a primary vehicle for small-scale space missions and observatories.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Air-launched rocket and expendable launch vehicle (ELV).
- **First Flight:** April 5, 1990.
- **Inception:** 1987.
- **Current Manufacturer:** Northrop Grumman Space Systems (since 2020).
- **Former Manufacturers:** Orbital Sciences Corporation (until 2015) and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (2015–2020).
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Variants:** Includes the Pegasus Hybrid and Pegasus XL.
- **Preceded By:** CLIMB (proposed research satellite).

## FAQs
### Q: What makes the Pegasus rocket unique?
A: Pegasus is an air-launched rocket, meaning it is carried to a high altitude by an aircraft before being released to launch its payload into orbit. It is classified as an expendable launch vehicle, as it is not recovered after use.

### Q: Who currently builds the Pegasus rocket?
A: The rocket is currently manufactured by Northrop Grumman Space Systems. It was originally developed and built by Orbital Sciences Corporation before that company was eventually integrated into Northrop Grumman.

### Q: What kind of payloads does Pegasus carry?
A: Pegasus is used to launch a variety of small satellites and space observatories. Notable payloads include NASA's NuSTAR X-ray telescope, the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), and international satellites like Argentina's SAC-B and Brazil's SCD-1.

## Why It Matters
Pegasus provides a specialized method for reaching space that bypasses the need for traditional ground-based launch pads. By utilizing an aerial launch platform, the system offers flexibility in launch locations and trajectories. Since its first flight in 1990, it has been a workhorse for NASA’s Small Explorer program and other scientific initiatives. It has successfully deployed critical instruments for solar observation, X-ray astronomy, and ultraviolet surveys, such as the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). Its development marked a significant milestone in the commercial aerospace sector, demonstrating the viability of air-launched orbital vehicles.

## Notable For
- **First Flight:** Successfully reached space on April 5, 1990.
- **Scientific Contributions:** Launched major space observatories including NuSTAR, RHESSI, and the Wide-Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE).
- **International Reach:** Provided launch services for global partners, including the Brazilian SCD-1 and the Argentine SAC-B satellites.
- **Technological Testing:** Used for the Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) to test autonomous navigation and rendezvous.

## Body

### Development and Manufacturing History
The Pegasus program began in 1987. For much of its history, it was the flagship product of the Orbital Sciences Corporation. Following industry consolidations, manufacturing responsibilities shifted to Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems in 2015, and subsequently to Northrop Grumman Space Systems in 2020.

### Technical Specifications
Pegasus is categorized as an aerial rocket and an expendable launch vehicle. It exists in multiple configurations, most notably the Pegasus XL and the Pegasus Hybrid. The system is designed to be "expendable," meaning the rocket components are not reused after a mission is completed.

### Notable Missions and Payloads
Pegasus has supported a wide range of scientific, military, and commercial missions:
- **Space Observatories:** It has launched the High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE) class, the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), and the Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE).
- **NASA Explorers:** Key missions include the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) and the Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS).
- **Technology Demonstrations:** It carried the Space Technology 5 (ST5) mission and the Array of Low-Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (ALEXIS).
- **Communications and Monitoring:** Payloads include the MUBLCOM communications satellite and the TOMS-EP ozone monitoring satellite.

### International and Military Use
Beyond NASA, Pegasus has served the U.S. military with launches like the C/NOFS (Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) and the MSTI-3. It has also facilitated international space efforts for countries including Austria (via the preceded CLIMB project), Argentina, and Brazil.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013