Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!think.com!mintaka!olivea!oliveb!veritas!amdcad!amdcad!military From: PAISLEY%auvm.auvm.edu@VM1.gatech.edu Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Pegasus Message-ID: <1991Apr12.055442.14741@amd.com> Date: 11 Apr 91 19:51:16 GMT References: <1991Mar30.020340.27985@amd.com> Sender: military@amd.com Organization: The American University - University Computing Center Lines: 27 Approved: military@amd.com From: >From: kinney@wku.edu (Mark Kinney) >Pegasus rocket project? The Pegasus is supposed to be able to put satellite- >sized payloads into orbit after launching from a B-52. I seem to recall an Consider: >1) The Air Force could lauch a new Keyhole so long as they have a >Pegasus, they can launch it almost *anywhere*, and whenever they want it. There was an article a while ago in either Proceedings or Sea Power that addressed this idea from a naval standpoint. The idea was interesting, but I don't know about how practical it is. Here it is: If Pegasus could be miniturized enough, it could be launched from a smaller aircraft (e.g. F-14 or other carrier-based aircraft). This would give task-force commanders their own tactical satellite launching capability. Since these satellites would have to be very small, they wouldn't be able to last long, but that's no problem, since they would only be needed for short-term tactical use. Besides the problems of acquiring any new weapon ssystem, does anyone have any ideas about the feasibility of this? -- L. GORDON PAISLEY, PAISLEY@AUVM.AUVM.EDU THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC USA