#pegasus rocket

[eyewitnessaviation]

Northrop Grumman's legendary "Stargazer" (as well as the last airworthy L1011 Tristar in the world) Deparing after a visit to Long Beach. This visit was a fuel stop before it Departed around 1pm. The L1011 made a go around at San Bernardino, then made a stop in Victorville (VCV). Later it flew west and made a flyover near Santa Maria (SMX) then went nearby to Vandenberg Space Force Base (VBG) to conduct Touch and Gos. Finally, around 5pm Stargazer went back to Mojave (MHV). Even after more than 50-years this 1974 former Air Canada airframe still has a lot of life left in it while all the other L1011s are memories. The "Stargazer" L1011 is typically used to launch Pegasus rockets under the belly where the black rim is seen in the photo. (April 14, 2026)

[nocternalrandomness]

Stargazer carrying a Pegasus XL  rocket over the Atlantic

Stargazer is a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar built in 1974, that was modified in 1994 for use by Orbital Sciences (now part of Northrop Grumman) as a mother ship launch pad for the Pegasus launch vehicle. As of October 2022, 45 rockets (containing nearly 100 satellites) have been launched from it, using the Pegasus-H and Pegasus-XL configurations. As of 2019, Stargazer was the only L-1011 airframe still airworthy.

[astronomicalconsiderations]

Description GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer): launched April 28, 2003.

GALEX was an ultraviolet light telescope that was launched by an air launched Pegasus rocket. Its main purpose was to study the formation of galaxies. GALEX was equipped with instruments that allowed astronomers to observe thousands of different galaxies. GALEX was operated by NASA until early 2012, then control was transferred to Caltech. The telescope was decommissioned in 2013.

Image Credit: NASA