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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) utilizes a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL launch vehicle to send it to space after it is released from a Lockheed Martin L-1011 aircraft (Stargazer). The spacecraft is based off of a Northrop Grumman LEOstar-2 bus. Photos courtesy: Mike Howard, Heather Smith