Orbital One, an L-1011 modified to be a flying launch pad, turns toward the Sun prior to landing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Skid Strip after launching NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) into orbit aboard a Pegasus XL rocket at 8:00 a.m. on 28 April 2003 at 39,000 feet over a location approximately 100 nautical miles over the Atlantic east-northeast of Cape Canaveral. In the large image, the equipment to hold and support the Pegasus rocket prior to launch is visible along the belly of the plane. The images above were captured around 9:30 a.m.
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