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- From: jjb@beta.lanl.gov (Jeffrey J Bloch)
- Subject: New Pegasus News
- Message-ID: <1993Jan9.171416.20722@newshost.lanl.gov>
- Keywords: Pegasus
- Sender: news@newshost.lanl.gov
- Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 17:14:16 GMT
- Lines: 24
-
- I have gotten word second-hand that the next Pegasus launch is delayed
- once again. As mentioned in this newsgroup already, last tuesday the
- B-52 with Pegasus under its wing took off from Edwards to go to the
- east coast for the Brazil-sat launch. Shortly after takeoff the
- rudder on Pegasus began to flutter +/- 40 degrees. It was supposed
- to be locked in a null position for transport. The B-52 returned to
- Edwards and the rudder was removed and as far as I know the failure
- hasn't been identified. Weather, and the upcomming shuttle launch
- may cause further postponements. The Brazil-sat launch, with its
- modified first stage nozzle (modified because after they finally
- took apart the 1989 ground static test firing article they found
- that the first two flights could have been very Challenger-like)
- and another nose fairing separation test (The fairing separation
- mechanism was modified due to contamination and reliability
- concerns) are the two milestones that have to be successful before
- the fourth Pegasus flight carrying the ALEXIS satellite can happen.
- Possible delays in the fairing test might push the ALEXIS launch
- into the mid-March or early April time frame.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Opinions expressed are my own and not those of | Jeff Bloch
- the DOE or LANL. | LANL
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