Northrop Grumman Space SystemsPegasus XLCape Canaveral, Air launch to orbit
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON)
Launched
October 11, 2019
Image: NASA/Laurie Losey
Summary
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) launched on a Northrop Grumman Space Systems Pegasus XL from Cape Canaveral, Air launch to orbit on October 11, 2019. It was Northrop Grumman Space Systems's 3rd launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 5,893rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 30th Pegasus XL flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). ICON, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 576 × 577 km orbit inclined 27.0°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Pegasus XL · Northrop Grumman Space Systems
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 30th Pegasus XL flight · 1st this yearNorthrop Grumman Space Systems's 3rd launch2nd this yearhumanity's 5,893rd orbital launch attempt73rd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
ICON · NORAD 44628 · 2019-068 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2019-068A
- Epoch
- 2019-10-11 02:11:14 UTC
- Mean motion
- 14.99232842 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.00002
- Inclination
- 27°
- Ascending node
- 227.1935°
- Arg. of perigee
- 100.65°
- Mean anomaly
- 32.17°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit
- ICON · NORAD 44628 · in orbit
Pegasus F44 Stage 3 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is a NASA mission to study Earth's thermosphere and ionosphere and the connection between space weather and weather on our planet. Mission is planned to last for two years.
Pad
Cape Canaveral, Air launch to orbit
7th launch from Cape Canaveral, 1st this year · 44th from Air launch to orbit
7 launches from this pad · 52 from Air launch to orbit
about 3 years after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) launch?
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) launched on October 11, 2019. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON)?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON)?
Pegasus XL, flown by Northrop Grumman Space Systems. Pegasus XL spec sheet
Where did Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) launch from?
Cape Canaveral, Air launch to orbit.
What orbit did Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) reach?
ICON, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 576 × 577 km orbit inclined 27.0°.
How many satellites did Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).