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Pegasus XL

Pegasus XL

Pegasus family · built by Orbital Sciences Corporation · maiden flight 1994-06-27

Profile data last updated: 2026-08-15T20:08:04.839063+00:00 | 7531-09-01

The Pegasus is an air-launched rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems). Capable of carrying small payloads of up to 443 kilograms (977 lb) into low Earth orbit, the vehicle consists of three solid propellant stages and an optional monopropellant fourth stage. Pegasus is released from its carrier aircraft at approximately 40,000 ft (12,000 m), and its first stage has a wing and a tail to provide lift and attitude control while in the atmosphere.

Specifications

17.6 mLength
1.27 mDiameter
23 tLaunch mass
580 kNLiftoff thrust

Payload Capacity

443 kgTo LEO

Lifetime Launch Record

As reported by Launch Library 2 across this rocket's entire history, not just the launches tracked on this site.

32Total launches
29Successful
3Failed
0Upcoming

Launches Tracked on This Site

32In our archive
90.6%Success rate
Jun 27, 1994 21:15 UTCEarliest tracked
Jul 03, 2026 08:36 UTCMost recent
MissionDateStatus
Pegasus XL | Swift Boost Mission Jul 03, 2026 08:36 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Odyssey (TacRL-2) Jun 13, 2021 08:11 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) Oct 11, 2019 02:00 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | 8 x CYGNSS Dec 15, 2016 13:37 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) Jun 28, 2013 02:27 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Jun 13, 2012 16:00 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) Oct 19, 2008 17:47 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) Apr 16, 2008 17:02 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) Apr 25, 2007 20:26 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Space Technology 5 (ST-5) (3x microsats) Mar 28, 2006 20:10 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | ST-5 FWD Mar 22, 2006 14:03 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) Apr 15, 2005 17:26 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | SCISAT-1 Aug 13, 2003 02:09 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | OrbView-3 Jun 26, 2003 18:53 UTC Success
Pegasus XL | Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) Apr 28, 2003 11:59 UTC Success

Wikipedia