Stargazer (aircraft)
Stargazer | |
---|---|
Stargazer in Pegasus XL rocket
| |
Type | Lockheed L-1011 TriStar |
Construction number | 1 |
Registration | N140SC |
First flight | November 16, 1970 |
Owners and operators | Orbital ATK
Northrop Grumman |
In service | 1976-Present |
Status | Active |
Stargazer is a
History
The first Pegasus launch to use Stargazer was conducted on 27 June 1994 as the maiden flight of the Pegasus-XL. Previous launches used the
Stargazer was also used for captive tests and transportation of the X-34 hypersonic research aircraft; however, drop tests used Balls 8. Orbital Sciences also offer the aircraft for research flights.[4] It is capable of carrying a 23,000 kilograms (51,000 lb) payload to an altitude of 12,800 metres (42,000 ft).[5]
Pegasus launches using Stargazer are usually conducted from
In 2010, Stargazer was reengined with 50,000 lbf (220 kN)-thrust Rolls-Royce RB211-524B4 turbofans to replace its original 42,000 lbf (190 kN)-thrust RB211-22Bs.[7]
In 2015, Stargazer was repainted to reflect Orbital Sciences' merger with Alliant Techsystems.[8]
On 15 December 2016, Stargazer successfully launched CYGNSS on behalf of NASA on its second attempt. The first attempt on 12 December was scrubbed due to issues with the hydraulic system responsible for separating the Pegasus rocket from the launch aircraft.[9]
Stargazer appeared in
Background
The
See also
- Scaled Composites White Knight
- LauncherOne — Virgin Galactic Rocket
- Cosmic Girl— LauncherOne Carrier Plane
- Scaled Composites Stratolaunch
References
- ^ "Aircraft Registration Database Lookup". www.airframes.org. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "Pegasus". Northrop Grumman. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen (10 October 2019). "Rockets purchased by Stratolaunch back under Northrop Grumman control". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ ""Stargazer" L-1011 Carrier Aircraft". Orbital Sciences Corporation. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ "L-1011 Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Pegasus". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ Norris, Guy (May 4, 2022). "Riding Along For An L-1011 Air Launch Flight Demonstration". Aviation Week Network. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ Ray, Justin (April 19, 2015). "Photo: New Orbital ATK paint job for Pegasus carrier jet". Spaceflight Now. Spaceflight Now Inc. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ Kremer, Ken (December 13, 2016). "Hydraulic Pump Glitch Aborts NASA's Hurricane MicroSat Fleet Launch to Dec. 15 - Live Coverage". Universe Today. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17.
- ^ Granath, Bob (7 November 2018). "Stargazer Aircraft Airborne with Pegasus XL, ICON Satellite". NASA. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ a b Bergin, Chris (August 27, 2018). "ICON resets for October launch from the East Coast". NASA Spaceflight. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23.
- ^ Mosier, Marty; Rutkowski, Ed (1993). "Pegasus XL Development and L-1011 Pegasus Carrier Aircraft". Utah State University Libraries. Dulles, VA: Orbital Sciences Corporation. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23.