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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Pegasus

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

Manufacturer unknownActive
Admin
Variants
3
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
46
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
443 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
200710
200820
201210
201310
201610
201910
202110
202611
202701
202801
202901
203001
203101
203201
203301
203401
203501

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Pegasus H
LEO443 kgUnknownUnknownManual Pegasus H fallback from Pegasus XL class capacity.
Pegasus XL
LEO443 kgUnknownUnknownManual Pegasus XL public-performance fallback.

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
LINK Mission
Pegasus XL
Jul 3, 2026
Odyssey Mission
Pegasus XL
Jun 13, 2021
ICON Mission
Pegasus XL
Oct 11, 2019
CYGNSS

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Pegasus
Not stated6Retired
Pegasus H
Not stated4Retired
Pegasus XL
Not stated36Active
203601
203701
203801
203901
204001
204101

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2027Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2028Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2029Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2030Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2031Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2032Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2033Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2034Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2035Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2036Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2037Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2038Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2039Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2040Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.
2041Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft120%Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback. Site-year coverage backfill copied nearest prior site-rate row.
Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2026 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2027 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2028 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2029 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2030 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2031 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Pegasus XL
Dec 15, 2016
IRIS Mission
Pegasus XL
Jun 28, 2013
NuSTAR Mission
Pegasus XL
Jun 13, 2012
IBEX/Star 27
Pegasus XL
Oct 19, 2008
C/NOFS Mission
Pegasus XL
Apr 16, 2008

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Track
Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2032 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2033 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2034 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2035 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2036 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Air launch | Stargazer carrier aircraft
2037 · 20% confidence
1

Editable low-confidence Pegasus annual throughput fallback.

Mentions
55
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The 46th and final Pegasus rocket separated from Orbital Sciences’ L-1011 carrier aircraft and ignited its motor on July 3, 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 2.5Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived
Page1of3

Northrop Grumman's Stargazer airplane was carrying the Pegasus rocket and Katalyst's LINK spacecraft.

GeneralValue 3.8Jul 2, 2026DROP and IGNITION of Pegasus-XL and LINK! 📸

Northrop Grumman's Stargazer airplane is carrying the Pegasus rocket and Katalyst's LINK spacecraft.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jul 2, 2026Northrop Grumman's Stargazer airplane is in the air with the Pegasus rocket and Katalyst's LINK spacecraft. Based on the few datapoints recieved via Aireon on Iridium-NEXT satellites it is in the holding pattern, awaiting drop and launch at 09:09 UTC.

Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket was carrying LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft for the Swift observatory.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jul 1, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: RT by @GewoonLukas_: Today’s launch of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft to boost our Swift observatory, has been postponed. Next attempt will be no earlier than July 2 at 5:09 a.m. ET. Get updates:

Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket will be mated to Stargazer, Northrop Grumman’s L-1011 carrier aircraft, for transport to Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the June 30 launch attempt.

PlanValue 4.0Jun 30, 2026Swift Boost Mission Potentially Launching Today

Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket was scheduled to carry LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft for NASA’s Swift observatory.

PlanValue 4.0Jun 30, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: RT by @GewoonLukas_: Today’s launch of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft to boost our Swift observatory, has been postponed. Next attempt will be no earlier than July 1 at 5:43 a.m. ET. Get updates:

The launch of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying LINK was postponed on June 30, 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jun 30, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: RT by @GewoonLukas_: Today’s launch of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft to boost our Swift observatory, has been postponed. Next attempt will be no earlier than July 1 at 5:43 a.m. ET. Get updates:

The carrier aircraft will carry a three-stage solid-fuel Pegasus XL rocket containing Katalyst Space Technologies’ 425-kilogram LINK robotic servicing vehicle.

CapabilityValue 4.5Jun 30, 2026Weather Postpones Launch of NASA’s Swift Telescope Robotic Rescue Mission

The next launch attempt for Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket was set for no earlier than July 1, 2026 at 5:43 a.m. ET.

PlanValue 4.0Jun 30, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: RT by @GewoonLukas_: Today’s launch of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying LINK, Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft to boost our Swift observatory, has been postponed. Next attempt will be no earlier than July 1 at 5:43 a.m. ET. Get updates:

Katalyst Space LINK completed integration with Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket at NASA Wallops Flight Facility’s Horizontal Integration Facility in Virginia on June 15.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Jun 30, 2026Swift Boost Mission Potentially Launching Today

Northrop integrated Link with the Pegasus rocket and the Pegasus with its L-1011 carrier aircraft at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jun 29, 2026A swift effort to boost the prospects for satellite servicing

The Pegasus rocket will be released from a modified Stargazer L-1011 carrier aircraft at an altitude of 40,000 feet before its first-stage motor ignites.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jun 29, 2026NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies Finalize Launch Preparations for Swift Telescope Orbital Rescue Mission

Katalyst Space Technologies procured a surplus Pegasus rocket from Northrop Grumman for the $30 million mission budget.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.8Jun 29, 2026NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies Finalize Launch Preparations for Swift Telescope Orbital Rescue Mission

The Pegasus rocket is an air-launched, three-stage solid-fuel booster.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 29, 2026NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies Finalize Launch Preparations for Swift Telescope Orbital Rescue Mission

The last operational L-1011 aircraft will launch a Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.6Jun 29, 2026A swift effort to boost the prospects for satellite servicing

Northrop Grumman’s Stargazer L-1011 departed Wallops after the Pegasus rocket carrying Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft was mated.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.5Jun 26, 2026New hazard area's have appeared for the Pegasus-XL launch of the Swift Boost Mission, and they indicate the launch has been delayed by 3 days to June 30th between 07:30 and 13:28 UTC, with the actual launch likely around the middle. Meanwhile Stargazer has arrived in Kwajalein.

Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus rocket is slated for a rapid-response mission to keep NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory operational.

PlanRelationshipsGeneralValue 3.5Jun 22, 2026Northrop Grumman userà Pegasus per evitare il rientro di Swift

Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket and Katalyst Space’s LINK robotic servicing spacecraft have been integrated onto Stargazer at Wallops.

PlanCapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Jun 16, 2026Hazard area's indicate the Pegasus launch of the Swift Boost Mission is scheduled for NET June 27th between 09:00-14:28 UTC! LINK & Pegasus have been integrated onto Stargazer at Wallops, and will soon head to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands 🇲🇭 from which they'll launch.

Katalyst selected Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket for the mission because it can be air-launched from the Marshall Islands to reach Swift’s orbital plane efficiently.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jun 14, 2026High-Stakes Rescue: Commercial Satellite Servicer Encapsulated for Swift Telescope Orbital Boost

The Pegasus XL rocket will be carried to the South Pacific aboard the Stargazer L-1011 mothership aircraft.

CapabilityValue 3.5Jun 14, 2026High-Stakes Rescue: Commercial Satellite Servicer Encapsulated for Swift Telescope Orbital Boost