air-launch to orbit

aerospace aerospace history air launch to orbit launch economics Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket small satellite launch spaceflight technology Stargazer Stargazer L-1011 Stratolaunch Virgin Orbit

Cleared Direct Aug 7, 2026

Pegasus, the Winged Rocket Dropped From an Airliner, and Whether Air Launch to Orbit Was Ever Going to Pay for Itself

Why air-launched rockets like Pegasus and LauncherOne worked technically but never beat conventional launch on cost.

Vector

Cleared Direct Aug 2, 2026

Air-Launch to Orbit, the Stargazer L-1011 and Pegasus, and Why a Rocket Dropped From a Jet Gets Altitude for Free but Still Has to Earn Every Bit of Its Speed

Air-launch drops a rocket from a jet at 40,000 feet to skip thick air - but orbit is a speed problem, and that's why the idea stalled.

Vector

Cleared Direct Jul 30, 2026

Air-Launch to Orbit, the Pegasus Rocket Slung Under an Airliner, and Why Dropping a Booster Off a Wing Is Harder Than It Sounds

How air-launch to orbit works, why Pegasus still flies, and why dropping a rocket off a wing is harder and pricier than it sounds.

Vector