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‘Stargazer’ — Last flying L-1011 Tri-Star in the world

by Cathy Hansen and found some complications that they were able to remedy. Had
special to Aerotech News that glitch not been found, the satellites would not have launched
correctly and the whole mission would have been a failure.
“Stargazer” is an L-1011 commercial transport aircraft, formerly Solid-fueled rocket motors for the Pegasus mission arrived at
with Air Canada, modified to serve as the launch platform for Orbit- Orbital ATK’s Vandenberg processing facility. Don Walter, Orbital
al’s air-launched Pegasus rocket, as well as a platform for airborne
research projects. The foundation for Orbital Sciences Corporation ATK’s Chief Pilot for the company’s Pegasus Air Launch Program,
was laid in 1980. This L-1011 aircraft was purchased in 1992, modi- Ed Dunlap and crew then flew the ‘Stargazer’ from Mojave to Van-
fied to carry the Pegasus rocket and began work in the commercial denberg to mate the Pegasus underneath the aircraft. They then flew
space industry in June 1994. to Cape Canaveral for a launch over the Atlantic Ocean.
Lockheed Aircraft Company manufactured 250 L-1011 Tri-Stars So many details, so many years of engineering and design and
in Palmdale, Calif., from 1968 to 1984. everything had to work perfectly and it did.
The ‘Stargazer’ L-1011 has been used to launch numerous Pega-
sus rockets as well as the captive carry flights of the X-34 reus- Northrop Grumman acquires Orbital ATK
able launch vehicle demonstrator. As of October 2019, 44 rockets
(containing 95 satellites) have been launched from it, using the According to Wikipedia, ‘Stargazer’ appeared in Northrop Grum-
Pegasus-H and Pegasus-XL configurations. man livery in 2018, following their acquisition of Orbital ATK.
’Stargazer’ launched the Ionospheric Connection Explorer on Oct.
Launching Satellites into Low Earth Orbit Courtesy photograph 11, 2019. The launch was originally scheduled for June 2017 but
The three-stage Pegasus is used to deploy small satellites weigh- was scrubbed when an anomalous piece of vehicle data was ob-
ing up to 1,000 pounds into low-Earth orbit. Pegasus is carried aloft Cygnus Spacecraft served during a ferry flight. The data was related to the rudder posi-
by the ‘Stargazer’ L-1011 aircraft to approximately 40,000 feet over The Antares rocket with the Cygnus spacecraft was launched tion of the Pegasus XL rocket and was observed during a routine
open ocean, where it is released and free-falls five seconds before from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia by ‘Stargazer.’ This
igniting its first stage rocket motor. With its unique delta-shaped was part of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services in-flight vehicle checklist. The launch was delayed multiple times
wing, Pegasus typically delivers satellites into low-Earth orbit in a (COTS) program to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. throughout 2017, 2018 and 2019, finally occurring Oct. 11, 2019.
little over 10 minutes. Orbital performed eight cargo missions to the ISS. The maiden flight ‘Stargazer’ is off on another mission, and departed Mojave Air
This patented air-launch system provides customers with unparal- of Cygnus spacecraft was completed Sept. 2013. The cargo included and Space Port last week. Ed Dunlap reported in an email to me,
leled flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere on Earth with student experiments, food and clothing. “How long we keep Stargazer flying depends on potential launch
minimal ground support requirements. Pegasus launches have been Cygnus approaches the International Space Station and is grap- contracts and component support. We are estimating through 2023.”
conducted from six separate sites in the U.S., Europe and the Mar- pled by the crew using the station’s robotic arm. It is then installed ‘Stargazer is the last flying L-1011 in the world.
shall Islands, the first time a space launch vehicle has demonstrated on the bottom side of the station’s Harmony node. After delivering
such operational flexibility. cargo to the station, Cygnus destructively reenters Earth’s atmo-
sphere.
Scaled Composites Manufactures Pegasus Control
Surfaces in Mojave Orbital Sciences merges with Alliant Techsystems
Wings and control surfaces for the Pegasus air-launch system are (ATK)
manufactured at Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif., Pegasus has In 2015, ‘Stargazer’ was re-painted to reflect Orbital Sciences’
been providing launch services for technology demonstrations, sci- merger with Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The Orbital ATK mission
entific investigation and communications missions since 1990 with is cost effective insertion of small satellites into low Earth orbit.
numerous missions launched from the L-1011 “Stargazer” carrier
aircraft that is based at Mojave Air and Space Port. L-1011 ‘Stargazer’ presentation at Plane Crazy
At a Plane Crazy Saturday event in January 2017, Ed Dunlap,
Orbital Sciences Move to Mojave manager, L-1011 Ground and Flight Operations, described some
‘Stargazer’ was previously based at Meadows Field in Bakers- issues that delayed the first intended launch. Ever the optimist, he
field, but was plagued with winter fog conditions. I remember in- said that he believed there was a reason that all didn’t go as planned
viting Marty Mosier and Mark Gamache (Orbital employees at the and actually saved the entire mission.
time) to speak at Bakersfield Council Navy League in 1998 and While he and his crew were battling some mechanical problems
during that time I invited them to bring their L-1011 to Mojave with the aircraft, NASA decided to recheck the payload of satellites Photograph by Kevin Cleynhens
Airport. I described our clear blue skies, long beautiful runways and
friendly management. Next thing I knew, they were on the phone to
Airport General Manager, Dan Sabovich. One thing led to another
and now they call Mojave Airport home.

Double Keel Structure
The Lockheed L-1011 has an unusual double keel structure that
the vertical fin of the Pegasus XL fits between. The fin goes in the
space formerly occupied by the lower deck galley. The rest of the
vehicle is carried entirely below the fuselage of the ‘Stargazer.’
There is an interesting story, relayed by L-1011 crew, on how this
aircraft received the name ‘Stargazer.’ It is a tribute to the televi-
sion series Star Trek: The Next Generation fictional starship, the
USS Stargazer.

Photographs by Cathy Hansen
Above: The Stargazer L-1011 makes an appearance at Plane Crazy
Saturday at the Mojave Air and Space Port. Right: Ed Dunlap makes
Photograph by Bill Deaver a presentation at Plane Crazy Saturday in January 2017.
The Pegasus rocket attach point.

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