Carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) to polar low Earth orbit for a planned survey of starburst galaxies; the telescope's cover ejected prematurely soon after launch, boiling off its solid-hydrogen cryogen and leaving the mission unable to complete its infrared survey.
- Outcome
- Success
- Payload to orbit
- 187 kg
- Flight
- 14th
- of 31 Pegasus XL flights
- Date and time
- 5 March 1999, 02:56 UTC
- Rocket
- Pegasus XL
- Builder
- OSC
- Launch site
- Vandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit
- Payload
- Unknown
- International designator
- 1999-011
- Launches in 1999
- 11th of 78
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