INFO and FLIGHT NOTES

Swift Launch 20 Nov 2004

Delta309 autopilot is set for 185km parking orbit at 28.7deg.inc.equ.
Press V to start autopilot at T-10s, for lift-off at 17:16:01 UTC
Make manual burns of Delta309 upper stage to raise orbit to 600km at 20.5deg.inc.equ.
This will require a large plane-change dV (at apogee?) of ~1000m/s.
Deploy Swift Observatory.

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Link Launch (Swift Rescue Mission) 27 June 2026

Take-off in Stargazer, minimum speed 80m/s, 50% Flaps
Drop PegasusXL over "PegasusXL_DropZone" base, at 12:12:00 UTC
Launch azimuth 112deg,  

Launch PegasusXL at 12.00km alt, flying straight and level at 230m/s.

PegasusXL launch autopilot is already active at jettison.
Target orbit: 360km x 420km
270s coast phase after 2nd stage burnout.

PegasusXL autopilot is pitch only - manually correct flight azimuth to match Swift orbit plane.
Don't attempt steering until 2nd stage is ignited.
Use AlignplaneMFD to minimise inclination to Swift orbit.
AlignplaneMFD "Time to Node" should be 270s at PegasusXL 2nd stage burnout.
Use 3rd stage burn to minimise inclination to Swift orbit.

Use remaining RCS fuel for final orbit corrections.

Land Stargazer back at base.
100% flaps, reduce power to minimum, use brakes and reverse thrust on landing.

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Swift Rescue

Use Link's Ion engine and RCS to rendezvous with Swift.
Dock Link +Z to Swift -Z bulkhead.
Use Ion engines to boost Swift to 600km orbit.
Use special "Lock Prograde Attitude" function for high time accelerations.
Release Swift.