Pegasus (satellite)

Pegasus was a series of three NASA satellites, which were launched in 1965 to explore the incidence of micro- meteorites.

The Pegasus satellite had two large retractable detector surfaces of a total of over 200 m², the spread of the satellite to the left and right, and registered the micrometeorites during installation or strike-through. All three Pegasus satellites were launched with the Saturn 1 rocket and remained connected to the upper stage of the rocket. At the time of launching the Pegasus satellites were the heaviest payloads that were previously placed in an earth orbit.

Missions

• Pegasus 1 was launched on February 16, 1965 and brought into an orbit with an inclination of 31.7 degrees. The perigee was initially 510 km, apogee 726 km, the weight was 10.5 tons.

• Pegasus 2 was launched on 25 May in 1965 and brought in an orbit with an inclination of 31.7 degrees. The perigee was initially 502 km, apogee 740 km, the weight was 10.5 tons.

• Pegasus 3 was launched on 30 July 1965, placed in an orbit with an inclination of 28.9 degrees. The perigee was initially 441 km, apogee 449 km, the weight was 10.5 tons.