Launch of the last Pegasus XL rocket was a success.
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| Stargazer © NASA/Ron Beard |
The launch took place last July 3 with the rocket reaching orbit and science teams having successfully established contact with the spacecraft. Now it will take several weeks before it will try to capture and raise the telescope that needs to be saved from its decaying orbit.
Nasa Science: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Yesterday's launch window was missed again due to a minor glitch that surfaced with the Pegasus rocket but it now seems everything is sorted out. A new attempt will be made today.
From NASA's Swift blog:
After takeoff of the L-1011 aircraft carrying the Pegasus XL, a launch vehicle issue temporarily prevented teams from deploying the rocket.
The launch of Katalyst’s robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, designed to boost the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, is now targeting no earlier than 8:35 p.m. UTC+12 (4:35 a.m. EDT), Friday, July 3, on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
From Space.com:
This is the final flight of the historic Pegasus rocket.
An air-launched Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket will soon fly for the very last time, sending a private spacecraft on a rescue mission to save one of NASA's most iconic space telescopes from falling back to Earth.
Mission postponed again due to unfavorable weather conditions:
The launch of Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, designed to boost the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, was postponed again Wednesday due to unfavorable weather conditions. The next launch attempt is targeted for no earlier than Thursday, July 2, at 9:09 p.m. UTC+12 (5:09 a.m. EDT), on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
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| Stargazer © Northrop Grumman |
Northrop Grumman pilots operate the Stargazer L-1011 aircraft to air-launch the Pegasus rocket, enabling precise, flexible deployment of small satellites like NASA’s Swift Observatory, requiring exceptional skill, teamwork, and focus for mission success.
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| Stargazer © NASA/Jamie Adkins |
The launch of Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, designed to boost the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, was postponed Tuesday due to unfavorable weather conditions. The next launch attempt is targeted for no earlier than Wednesday, July 1, at 9:43 p.m. UTC+12 (5:43 a.m. EDT), on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
Space.com website states that Swift Boost mission will be the last flight of the Pegasus rocket. Will there be another new design of a rocket that can be mated to the L-1011 or will this also mean the final end of an era for the aircraft type too?
An air-launched Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket is scheduled to fly for the very last time early Tuesday morning (June 30), sending a private spacecraft on a rescue mission to save one of NASA's most iconic space telescopes from falling back to Earth.
Full article here:
Space.com: NASA to launch rescue mission
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| Stargazer © NASA/Ron Beard |
Northrop Grumman's Stargazer aircraft will take off from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, climb to about 40,000 feet, and drop a Pegasus XL rocket carrying Katalyst Space's LINK robotic servicing satellite. Pegasus XL’s three solid rocket motors will fire in sequence and deliver LINK to orbit to boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
Full news article:
As announced last year, Stargazer will soon perform another mission, named "Swift Boost" by NASA.
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| Stargazer © NASA/Ron Beard |
Last 18th, the aircraft with the Pegasus XL rocket already mated to it, departed from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility for Kwajalein Atoll where the launch will take place later this month.
NASA set up a special page for this mission:
NASA Science: Swift Boost Mission
Another L-1011 airframe (s/n 193M-1019) was scrapped last May 26. The intention announced last year was now carried out. Air Transat was the last operator of this aircraft that was damaged while flying through a hail storm, in 2001.
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| Farewell N31019 © Airline History Museum |