Mission: Pegasus XL – NuSTAR

NuSTAR
Pegasus XL
L-1011 Tristar Aircraft
June 13th 2012
16:00 UTC
Successful Mission




Status
The NuSTAR spacecraft launched on a Pegasus Rocket dropped from the L-1011 aircraft on June 13th at 16:00 UTC. The spacecraft weighs 772 pounds and it's purpose is as an x-ray telescope which will study deep into the black holes of our Universe.

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Mission Photos

Pegasus - NuSTAR

The Pegasus rocket is briefly visible as it drops away from under the aircraft, Launch was on time and completely successful. (Photo Credit: NASA Television)
The Pegasus rocket is briefly visible as it drops away from under the aircraft, Launch was on time and completely successful. (Photo Credit: NASA Television)
The Pegasus rocket is visible as the L-1011 Aircraft climbs to drop altitude of 39,000 feet. (Photo Credit: NASA Television)
The Pegasus rocket is visible as the L-1011 Aircraft climbs to drop altitude of 39,000 feet. (Photo Credit: NASA Television)
The Pegasus rocket attached to the L-1011 Aircraft await for launch day at the Kwajalein Atoll. (Photo Credit: NASA)
The Pegasus rocket attached to the L-1011 Aircraft await for launch day at the Kwajalein Atoll. (Photo Credit: NASA)
The Pegasus rocket attached to the L-1011 Aircraft await for launch day at the Kwajalein Atoll. (Photo Credit: NASA)
The Pegasus rocket attached to the L-1011 Aircraft await for launch day at the Kwajalein Atoll. (Photo Credit: NASA)
The L-1011 Aircraft touches down at the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll,(Photo Credit: NASA/Photo courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp.)
The L-1011 Aircraft touches down at the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll,(Photo Credit: NASA/Photo courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp.)
The L-1011 Aircraft touches down at the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll,(Photo Credit: NASA/Photo courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp.)
The L-1011 Aircraft touches down at the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll,(Photo Credit: NASA/Photo courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp.)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base where the Spacecraft has been processed (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached taxi for take off. (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
The L-1011 Aircraft with NuSTAR attached taxi for take off. (Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
NuSTAR mating is complete as the rocket and aircraft await to depart Vandenberg Air Force Base for the launch site (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft on the Pegasus rocket rolls out to the L-1011 Tristar Aircraft (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is encapsulated in the rockets payload fairing (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is encapsulated in the rockets payload fairing (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is attached to the Pegasus rocket hardware (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is attached to the Pegasus rocket hardware (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is seen undergoing solar array light tests (Photo Credit: NASA)
The NuSTAR Spacecraft is seen undergoing solar array light tests (Photo Credit: NASA)
Assembly of the Pegasus rocket continues (Photo Credit: NASA)
Assembly of the Pegasus rocket continues (Photo Credit: NASA)
The stages of the Pegasus rocket arrive for assembly (Photo Credit: NASA)
The stages of the Pegasus rocket arrive for assembly (Photo Credit: NASA)

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