Pegasus rocket: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Pegasus rocket is a three stage, solid propellant, winged space booster developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC). The vehicle is launched from another aircraft (initially, a B-52, but more recently, an L-1011) at approximately 40,000 feet. The vehicle is capable of placing small payloads into low altitude orbits. The first successful Pegasus launch occurred on April 5 1990.