Tour the Plane Giving NASA’s ICON a Ride to Space

Early in the morning of Nov. 7, 2018, NASA launches the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, a spacecraft that will explore the dynamic region where Earth meets space. ICON launches on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, which is carried aloft by the Stargazer L-1011 aircraft. Join NASA on a behind-the-scenes tour of this plane, once a jet airliner and now uniquely retrofitted to boost spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. Learn about ICON’s science and meet the people — including an engineer, technician, and pilot — who will help launch the spacecraft into orbit. CREDITS: Scott England (Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley): Talent Edward Dunlap (Northrop Grumman): Talent Jim Stowers (Northrop Grumman): Talent Don Walter (Northrop Grumman): Talent Karen Fox (ASI): Host Glenn Benson (ASRC Federal Data Solutions): Videographer Francis Michaux (ASRC Federal Data Solutions): Videographer Joy Ng (USRA): Editor Sarah Frazier (ADNET Systems Inc.): Producer Kathalina Tran (Wyle Information Systems): Producer Michael Justice (ASRC Federal Data Solutions): Support Amber Jean Watson (Abacus Technology Corporation): Support Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng