Orbital Sciences CorporationPegasus XLVandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit
Space Test Experiments Platform 1 (STEP-1)
Launched
June 27, 1994
Image: NASA/Laurie Losey
Summary
STEP-1 launched on an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit on June 27, 1994. The mission failed: Flight termination after loss of vehicle control 35 seconds into flight. It was Orbital Sciences Corporation's 7th launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 3,906th orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Pegasus XL flight. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Result
- Flight termination after loss of vehicle control 35 seconds into flight
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Pegasus XL · Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Technology · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 1st Pegasus XL flightOrbital Sciences Corporation's 7th launch3rd this yearhumanity's 3,906th orbital launch attempt38th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
STEP-1 was a US Air Force Space Test Program satellite with experiments on radio propagation, the plasma environment and the upper atmosphere. It was lost when the first Pegasus XL went out of control and was destroyed during ascent.
Pad
Vandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit
1st launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, 1st this year · 6th from Air launch to orbit
22 launches from this pad · 52 from Air launch to orbit
under an hour after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STEP-1 launch?
STEP-1 launched on June 27, 1994. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why did STEP-1 fail?
Flight termination after loss of vehicle control 35 seconds into flight.
Where can I watch STEP-1?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched STEP-1?
Pegasus XL, flown by Orbital Sciences Corporation. Pegasus XL spec sheet
Where did STEP-1 launch from?
Vandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit.
What orbit was STEP-1 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a technology mission.