![]() L-1011 ‘Stargazer’ presentation at Plane CrazyĪt a Plane Crazy Saturday event in January 2017, Ed Dunlap, manager, L-1011 Ground and Flight Operations, described some issues that delayed the first intended launch. The Stargazer L-1011 makes an appearance at Plane Crazy Saturday at the Mojave Air and Space Port. 15, 2016, to measure the winds inside hurricanes, giving scientists insight into their formation, intensification and life cycle. The constellation of eight Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) spacecraft that was launched by the Pegasus rocket on Dec. The Orbital ATK mission is cost effective insertion of small satellites into low Earth orbit.ĬYGNSS (Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System) In 2015, ‘Stargazer’ was re-painted to reflect Orbital Sciences’ merger with Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital Sciences merges with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) After delivering cargo to the station, Cygnus destructively reenters Earth’s atmosphere. It is then installed on the bottom side of the station’s Harmony node. The cargo included student experiments, food and clothing.Ĭygnus approaches the International Space Station and is grappled by the crew using the station’s robotic arm. The maiden flight of Cygnus spacecraft was completed Sept. Orbital performed eight cargo missions to the ISS. The Antares rocket with the Cygnus spacecraft was launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia by ‘Stargazer.’ This was part of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. There is an interesting story, relayed by L-1011 crew, on how this aircraft received the name ‘Stargazer.’ It is a tribute to the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation fictional starship, the USS Stargazer. The rest of the vehicle is carried entirely below the fuselage of the ‘Stargazer.’ The fin goes in the space formerly occupied by the lower deck galley. The Lockheed L-1011 has an unusual double keel structure that the vertical fin of the Pegasus XL fits between. One thing led to another and now they call Mojave Airport home. Next thing I knew, they were on the phone to Airport General Manager, Dan Sabovich. I described our clear blue skies, long beautiful runways and friendly management. I remember inviting Marty Mosier and Mark Gamache (Orbital employees at the time) to speak at Bakersfield Council Navy League in 1998 and during that time I invited them to bring their L-1011 to Mojave Airport. ‘Stargazer’ was previously based at Meadows Field in Bakersfield, but was plagued with winter fog conditions. Wings and control surfaces for the Pegasus air-launch system are manufactured at Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif., Pegasus has been providing launch services for technology demonstrations, scientific investigation and communications missions since 1990 with numerous missions launched from the L-1011 “Stargazer” carrier aircraft that is based at Mojave Air and Space Port. Scaled Composites Manufactures Pegasus Control Surfaces in Mojave Photograph by Kevin Cleyhens (Northrop Grumman photograph) Pegasus launches have been conducted from six separate sites in the U.S., Europe and the Marshall Islands, the first time a space launch vehicle has demonstrated such operational flexibility. This patented air-launch system provides customers with unparalleled flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere on Earth with minimal ground support requirements. With its unique delta-shaped wing, Pegasus typically delivers satellites into low-Earth orbit in a little over 10 minutes. Pegasus is carried aloft by the ‘Stargazer’ L-1011 aircraft to approximately 40,000 feet over open ocean, where it is released and free-falls five seconds before igniting its first stage rocket motor. The three-stage Pegasus is used to deploy small satellites weighing up to 1,000 pounds into low-Earth orbit. Launching Satellites into Low Earth Orbit As of October 2019, 44 rockets (containing 95 satellites) have been launched from it, using the Pegasus-H and Pegasus-XL configurations. The ‘Stargazer’ L-1011 has been used to launch numerous Pegasus rockets as well as the captive carry flights of the X-34 reusable launch vehicle demonstrator. Lockheed Aircraft Company manufactured 250 L-1011 Tri-Stars in Palmdale, Calif., from 1968 to 1984. This L-1011 aircraft was purchased in 1992, modified to carry the Pegasus rocket and began work in the commercial space industry in June 1994. ![]() The foundation for Orbital Sciences Corporation was laid in 1980. ![]() “Stargazer” is an L-1011 commercial transport aircraft, formerly with Air Canada, modified to serve as the launch platform for Orbital’s air-launched Pegasus rocket, as well as a platform for airborne research projects. By Cathy Hansen, special to Aerotech News
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