Orbital Pegasus - Manual (Page 88)

Release 7.0 Apr 2010 C-2
Pegasus User’s Guide
C1.0 LAUNCH RANGE INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
Pegasus’ air-launched design vastly increases
launch point flexibility. Some ground support is
required to ensure the safety of the people and
property, to communicate with the carrier aircraft,
and to provide data collection and display. This
support is usually provided by a federal Major
Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB) such as
the Eastern Range, Patrick AFB, Florida; Western
Range, Vandenberg AFB, California; and Wallops
Flight Facility, Virginia.
Pegasus has also been supported by the Wallops
Mobile Range for launch from foreign soil such as
from the Canary Islands, Spain. The use of a
certified mobile range satisfies requirements of the
Department of Transportation to enable a licensed
commercial launch. To assist customers who may
wish to launch from a specific geographic location,
this Appendix C summarizes the capabilities
needed. This support could be provided by any
facility meeting the following requirements.
C2.0 RANGE SAFETY
C2.1 Trajectory Analysis
The planned trajectory must be analyzed to
determine if any populated areas will be overflown
and if the risk is acceptable. Impact limit lines
must be developed to ensure that the
instantaneous impact point (IIP) of any stage or
debris does not impact inhabited land. Reference
the Eastern and Western Range, Range Safety
Requirements Document (EWR 127-1) for detailed
requirements and risk limitations.
C2.2 Area Clearance and Control
The airspace surrounding the launch area must be
cleared and controlled during the mission. Notices
to airmen and mariners must be sent to clear the
airspace and the predicted impact points of the
spent stages and known debris.
C2.3 Range Safety Displays
Visual display of the present position and IIPs
must be available to the safety personnel to verify
that no safety criteria are violated. This requires
redundant tracking sources such as radar or
telemetry guidance data. Pegasus is equipped
with a C-Band tracking transponder and provides
position data in the telemetry downlink.
C2.4 Flight Termination System
Pegasus is equipped with command receivers that
operate at either 421.0 or 425.0 MHz. They are
capable of receiving commands utilizing the
standard four tone alphabet. The command
transmitter system must meet federal standards as
described in EWR 127-1.
C2.5 FTS Controllers
Certified FTS Controllers must meet the federal
standards described in EWR 127-1.
C3.0 TELEMETRY
Pegasus downlinks telemetry data in the S-band
and upper S-band frequency range (2,200-2,300
and 2,300-2,400 Mhz). A telemetry system must
be capable of tracking, receiving, and recording
this data. The OCA has on-board video cameras
and this data is transmitted via a telemetry system
that operates in the upper S-band range. A chase
aircraft is normally used and it also downlinks
telemetry. A separate telemetry system is
required to track, receive, and record this data.
C4.0 COMMUNICATIONS
C4.1 Air to Ground
Air to ground communications are required to
communicate with the carrier aircraft during the
launch operations. This can be in the HF, VHF, or
UHF frequency range.
C4.2 Voice Nets
Voice nets are required for communications
between the various controllers involved in the
operation. Four to eight nets are required.