Private mission to save NASA space telescope will launch in 2026 on a rocket dropped from a plane
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/katalyst-space-technologies-swift-observatory-rescue-mission-pegasus-rocket
Private mission to save NASA space telescope will launch in 2026 on a rocket dropped from a plane
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/katalyst-space-technologies-swift-observatory-rescue-mission-pegasus-rocket
3 Comments
It’s a Pegasus rocket, and the satellite they’re boosting is the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
The article explains why Pegasus:
> Northrop Grumman already had the rocket hardware for this coming mission pretty much ready to go, according to Kurt Eberly, director of space launch for the company.
…
> Katalyst’s mission will fly on a Pegasus XL, a slightly longer and more massive version of the air-launched rocket. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the total budget of the Swift rescue mission is $30 million, including launch.
Why was Swift launched into a 20.6° inclination orbit in the first place? Its launch site Cape Canaveral is at 28.5°, so the Delta II it launched on must have flown a sizeable dogleg maneuver.