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When NASA's DART spacecraft launches into space, it will be carried aboard one of the most inventive and clever vehicles ever devised. DART will soar into the sky on the nose of a Pegasus XL rocket. The Pegasus XL was developed as an inexpensive way of launching small payloads into space. The rocket specializes in carrying satellites and experiments that weigh up to 1,000 pounds into low-Earth orbit. Pegasus' first leap into space is aboard Orbital Science's L-1011 'Stargazer' jet. Using the Stargazer saves money by eliminating the need for an additional rocket motor for launch pad liftoff. Once in the air, the L-1011 requires about one hour to fly to the rocket's launch altitude of 39,000 feet. At that height, the Pegasus is released and allowed to freefall for about five seconds before igniting its engines. The Pegasus then accelerates to a maximum speed of 17,000 miles per hour, vaulting the rocket and its cargo into orbit. Nearly 10 minutes later, the Pegasus will have exhausted its stage two and stage three motors and released its payload to begin the mission.

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