NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

FORTE

Launch Time
Fri Aug 29, 1997 15:02 UTC

Rocket

Pegasus XL
Northrop
Status: Active
Price: $40.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 561 kN
Payload to LEO: 443 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 17.6 m
Fairing Diameter: 1.15 m
Fairing Height: 2.13 m

Mission Details

FORTE (Fast On-orbit Rapid Recording of Transient Events)

It utilizes optical sensors, RF sensors, and an "event classifier" in order to make observations, including monitoring Very High Frequency (VHF) lightning emissions in the ionosphere occurring from between 50 to 600 miles (80 to 966 km) above the surface of the Earth, and it will be a component of the VHF Global Lightning and Severe Storm Monitor (V-GLASS) system.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 210.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

Stargazer, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1997

49th orbital launch attempt

Pegasus

17th mission
3rd mission of 1997
12th successful mission
3rd consecutive successful mission