TriStar500.net Blog: 2026

L-1011 Stargazer, Swift Boost Mission III

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.

NASA Science: Weather Delays Launch of Mission to Boost NASA’s Swift

Article by Northrop Grumman: Cockpit to the Cosmos

Cockpit to the Cosmos

With unmatched skill and focus, Northrop Grumman’s Stargazer pilots transform a jetliner into a launch platform.

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.

Full article: Cockpit to the Cosmos

Swift Boost scrubbed due to weather

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.

NASA Science: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Is this the last Stargazer mission?

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

L-1011 Stargazer, Swift Boost Mission II

Launch:

No earlier than Tuesday, June 30, 6:23 a.m. EDT

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:

NASA Science: Partners, NASA Ready for June Launch of Swift Boost Mission

L-1011 Stargazer, Swift Boost Mission

As announced last year, Stargazer will soon perform another mission, named "Swift Boost" by NASA.

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

Lyon-Saint Exupéry L-1011 C-FTNA scrapped

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.

Airline History Museum: L-1011 scrapped

Farewell N31019 © Airline History Museum

Rumors are now confirmed. AHM's L-1011 was scrapped by Signature Aviation, a firm that showed total disrespect for aviation and for those who endeavored their time and money preserving the past for future generations. I was for a long time considering visiting Kansas City and this museum. Not anymore...

Parts of this airframe (193B-1066) are said to be used on the N140SC Stargazer.

Airframe information

Serial Number: 193B-1066

Model/Type: -50

Registration: N31019

Owner: Airline History Museum

Status: Scrapped

Airline History Museum fighting for survival (IV)

It seems that the Airline History Museum complaint against the "City" was dismissed by the FAA leaving the museum and its aviation collection in a very delicate position. Although the museum remains silent about the deliberation, when consulting the FAA docket about the case, apparently AHM is trying to file an appeal which has to be submitted until May 11.

Ralph M. Pettersen's Constellation Survivors Website states that "Word is that the museum's L1011 will be scrapped before the FIFA World Cup event happens in mid-June".

The L-1011 in question is the S/N 193B-1066, which was flown to the Kansas City Airport (MKC) under the registration N700TS and later re-registered N31019, its original TWA tail number. There is another L-1011 on display at the internacional airport (MCI) of Kansas City, the N910TE belonging to KC Aviation STEM (previously TriStar Experience).

Kansas City Business Journal: FAA dismisses Airline History Museum complaint
Regulations.gov: Save-A-Connie against Kansas City
Ralph M. Pettersen's Connie Survivors Website: FAA Issues Determination
Flickr: N700TS Airline History Museum L-1011

L-1011 Stargazer, registered N140SC did a couple of flights out of Mojave last month. Beside keeping pilots current on the type, these flights were also intended to test newly installed avionics, Universal FMS Garmin moving map, Garmin radar and XM Weather;

Airline History Museum - owner of the L-1011 msn 193B-1066 - is now expecting a decision (or another notice of extension...) next February 18 about its right to keep making use of Hangar 9 at Kansas City Airport (MCI);

Since L-1011 msn 293B-1240, registered CS-TEB, is not seen anymore on Google Maps/Google Earth at Amman Civil Airport, it's now presumed to have been scrapped. In its last known location at the airport is now visible an Ilyushin Il-76 instead.

iniBuilds announces TriStar Project for MSFS2024

Last December, iniBuilds announced it is developing a TriStar Project for the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, focusing on the -500 variant of the L-1011.

FSElite: iniBuilds Announces TriStar Airliner for MSFS 2024