Henry Spencer wrote:

Rapid launch was a goal for Taurus, but I don't recall explicit mention
of it for Pegasus. (Mind you, it's been a while...)


If it succeeds, RASCAL would give the military NRO and NSA a unique
capability in regards to space access; such a vehicle would be capable
of launching a large number of small satellites onto orbital paths that
would take them over "hotspots" on their first orbit, allowing SIGINT
intercepts from orbit or photoreconnaissance at borderline orbital
heights- with the images being sent down via coded microburst as the
satellite passed back over the U.S. or friendly territory prior to reentry.
It would also allow the launch of large numbers of small military
communications, navigation, or signal jamming satellites in a surge mode
in times of crises, as well as satellite interceptor vehicles in a
direct-ascent mode.
The mission launch rate of once per 24 hours means that a small number
of these aircraft/booster combos could put up stored satellites or
interceptors every few hours in an emergency.
Although such a craft could have scientific or commercial uses, the
funding by DARPA suggests that its use is intended to be primarily
military in nature.

Pat