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Pegasus

retired
Science ExplorationLEOCOSPAR 2017-036VLaunched 6/23/2017
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Cartosat-2(S)/Cubesats
Launch Vehicle
PSLV-XL
Launch Date
6/23/2017
Last Contact
12/22/2023
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
506.5 km
Inclination
97.45 deg
Dry Mass
2 kg
Total Mass
2 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Science Exploration
Payload Category
SCI
Payload Class
A
Organizations
Operator
University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt
Manufacturer
University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt
Registry
COSPAR ID
2017-036V
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/817
Track
Mentions
119
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
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Actions

NASA paid $40 million for Pegasus to launch the IRIS mission in 2013.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.8Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived
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Northrop Grumman built no additional Pegasus rockets after the final vehicle.

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

NASA paid $40 million for the IRIS Pegasus mission in 2013.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.3Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

The Space Force used Pegasus for the TacRL-2 tactically responsive launch mission in 2021.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

NASA paid $56.3 million for the ICON Pegasus mission in 2014.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.5Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Stargazer staged the final Pegasus launch from Kwajalein Atoll to reach Swift’s low-inclination orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

DARPA was Pegasus’s first customer.

RelationshipsValue 3.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Katalyst Space Technologies’ LINK servicer was Pegasus’s final payload.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus’s final payload was Katalyst Space Technologies’ LINK servicer.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

The TacRL-2 Pegasus call-up took 21 days.

PlanValue 2.7Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

The U.S. Space Force used Pegasus for the TacRL-2 mission in 2021 to demonstrate tactically responsive launch.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

NASA paid $56.3 million for Pegasus to launch the ICON mission in 2014.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.6Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus first launched from a NASA B-52 on April 5, 1990.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus was the world’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle when it first flew from a NASA B-52 on April 5, 1990.

GeneralValue 2.2Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus flew 46 times in 36 years.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.4Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus delivered the GALEX, NuSTAR, IRIS, CYGNSS, ICON, and IXPE missions.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Jul 13, 2026Air Launch Died the Same Week Responsive Space Arrived

Pegasus launched and reached orbit at 08:36 UTC.

PlanValue 1.0Jul 3, 2026While Northrop now no longer has any manufactured Pegasus rockets, and none on contract, Pegasus isn't officially retired yet. Northrop Grumman said they are open for opportunities, and can make more if needed. However I do think the chance of that happening is small.

Northrop Grumman is open to opportunities to produce more Pegasus rockets if needed.

GrowthValue 2.0Jul 3, 2026While Northrop now no longer has any manufactured Pegasus rockets, and none on contract, Pegasus isn't officially retired yet. Northrop Grumman said they are open for opportunities, and can make more if needed. However I do think the chance of that happening is small.

Northrop Grumman's Stargazer airplane is back in the air with Pegasus and LINK.

CapabilityValue 3.8Jul 3, 2026Stargazer is descending and returning back to Bucholz Army Airfield. The plane did make a big turn, which would be expected for a drop, but they also did this yesterday so nothing that can be determined from that. All eyes on NASA's blog...

NASA confirmed that Pegasus launched and reached orbit.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Jul 3, 2026And NASA confirmed Pegasus launched and reached orbit! Launch took place at 08:36 UTC. Over the next few weeks, Katalyst will perform checkouts and rendezvous with Swift, after which they will observe Swift to characterise it before attempting to dock. 📸 CYGNSS in 2016