Orbital ATK, Stratolaunch Forge Partnership to Provide Commercial Air-Launch Space Services

Orbital ATK and Stratolaunch Systems, a subsidiary of Vulcan Aerospace, have formed a partnership in an effort to provide commercial launch customers access to low-Earth orbit through air-launch space services.

Orbital ATK will initially supply several Pegasus XL rockets for integration with Stratolaunch’s aircraft as part of the partnership, the companies said Thursday.

The Stratolaunch plane will work to facilitate air launches of the Pegasus rocket designed to carry 1,000-pound satellite payloads into low-Earth orbit.

The Orbital ATK-built Pegasus launch vehicle has performed 42 missions in order to transport over 80 satellites into space.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen established Stratolaunch Systems with Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan in December 2011.