Rocket family
Pegasus
United States1990 to 2026Pegasus is the first rocket to reach orbit after being dropped from an aircraft, and one of the first privately developed launchers. Released from a B-52 and later from the L-1011 Stargazer, it falls for about five seconds before its first stage ignites, then climbs to orbit on solid motors, carrying small satellites from wherever its carrier can fly.
- Launches
- 46
- Success rate
- 91%
- 2 failures · 2 partial
- First flight
- 1990
- Pegasus
- Last flight
- 2026
- Pegasus XL
- Rocket types
- 5
Launches per year
Show as table
| Year | Launches |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Pegasus rockets
| Rocket | Flown | Launches | Success rate | Height | Payload to LEO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pegasus | 1990 to 1994 | 4 | 100% | 16.9 m | 443 kg |
| Pegasus HAPS | 1991 to 1994 | 2 | 50% | 15.5 m | 250 kg |
| Pegasus XL | 1994 to 2026 | 31 | 90% | 17.6 m | 443 kg |
| Pegasus Hybrid | 1995 to 2000 | 4 | 100% | 15.5 m | 350 kg |
| Pegasus XL HAPS | 1997 to 1999 | 5 | 100% | 17.6 m | 443 kg |