Minotaur (rocket)
Encyclopedia
The Minotaur is a family of American
solid fuel
rocket
s derived from converted Minuteman
and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile
s. They are built by Orbital Sciences Corporation
.
Two variants of the Minotaur are currently in service. The Minotaur I
is an orbit
al launch system
used to launch small satellite
s into low Earth orbit
(LEO). The Minotaur II
, also known as Chimera and TLV, is used for suborbital flights, often as a target for tracking and anti-ballistic missile
tests. The Minotaur IV
is a more capable LEO launch system. Two more versions are also under development. These are the Minotaur III
, which will also be used for suborbital flights, and the Minotaur V, which is designed to reach higher orbits, including GTO and trans-lunar trajectories. The Minotaur I and II are derived from the Minuteman missile, while the Minotaur III, IV and V are derived from the Peacekeeper.
, and Taurus
. The Minotaur IV launch vehicle consists of an SR118 first stage, SR119 second stage, SR120 third stage, and Orion 38 fourth stage. Payload 1735 kg to a 185 km, 28.5 degree orbit from Cape Canaveral. The first Minotaur IV was launched April 22, 2010 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
This vehicle is also being developed to accommodate the Conventional Prompt Global Strike mission for the Air Force. (CPGS)
, lunar, and interplanetary missions. NASA has awarded a contract to the Orbital Sciences Corporation, managed by the Air Force's Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW), to use a Minotaur V to launch the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
(LADEE) Mission from the Wallops Island, Virginia launch site in early 2013. The Minotaur will launch the LADEE spacecraft into a highly elliptic orbit where it can phase and time its trajectory burn to the moon.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
solid fuel
Solid fuel
Solid fuel refers to various types of solid material that are used as fuel to produce energy and provide heating, usually released through combustion....
rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s derived from converted Minuteman
LGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s. They are built by Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
.
Two variants of the Minotaur are currently in service. The Minotaur I
Minotaur I
The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.Minotaur I rockets consist of the...
is an orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
al launch system
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
used to launch small satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s into low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
(LEO). The Minotaur II
Minotaur II
The Minotaur II, also known as Chimera, Target Launch Vehicle, Minuteman II TLV or OSP TLV is an American rocket derived from the Minuteman II missile...
, also known as Chimera and TLV, is used for suborbital flights, often as a target for tracking and anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
tests. The Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle...
is a more capable LEO launch system. Two more versions are also under development. These are the Minotaur III
Minotaur III
The Minotaur III, also known as OSP-2 Target Launch Vehicle, Peacekeeper TLV or OSP-2 TLV is an American rocket derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile...
, which will also be used for suborbital flights, and the Minotaur V, which is designed to reach higher orbits, including GTO and trans-lunar trajectories. The Minotaur I and II are derived from the Minuteman missile, while the Minotaur III, IV and V are derived from the Peacekeeper.
Minotaur I
The original Minotaur launch vehicle, consisting of an M55A1 first stage, SR19 second stage, Orion 50XL third stage, Orion 38 fourth stage, and optional HAPS fifth stage for velocity trim and multiple payload deployment. Payload 580 kg to a 185 km, 28.5 degree orbit from Cape Canaveral; or 310 kg to a 740 km sun-synchronous orbit from Vandenberg.Minotaur II
A suborbital target vehicle, essentially consisting of a Minuteman II with Orbital guidance and control systems. Consists of M55A1 first stage, SR19 second stage, and M57 third stage. Payload 460 kg on 6700 km suborbital trajectory.Minotaur III
A suborbital target vehicle, consisting of an SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage, SR-120 third stage, and Super HAPS fourth stage. Payload 3060 kg on a 6700 km suborbital trajectory.Minotaur IV
The Minotaur IV combines U.S Government-furnished solid rocket motors from decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBMs with technologies from other Orbital-built launch vehicles, including the Minotaur I, PegasusPegasus rocket
The Pegasus rocket is a winged space launch vehicle capable of carrying small, unmanned payloads into low Earth orbit. It is air-launched, as part of an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation . Three main stages burning solid propellant provide the thrust...
, and Taurus
Taurus rocket
Taurus is a four stage, solid fuel launch vehicle built in the United States by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It is based on the air-launched Pegasus rocket from the same manufacturer. The Taurus rocket is able to carry a payload of around 1,350 kg into a low Earth orbit. First launched in 1994,...
. The Minotaur IV launch vehicle consists of an SR118 first stage, SR119 second stage, SR120 third stage, and Orion 38 fourth stage. Payload 1735 kg to a 185 km, 28.5 degree orbit from Cape Canaveral. The first Minotaur IV was launched April 22, 2010 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
This vehicle is also being developed to accommodate the Conventional Prompt Global Strike mission for the Air Force. (CPGS)
Minotaur V
A Minotaur V five-stage version has also been conceptualized. It would have an additional upper stage for small GTOGeostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit....
, lunar, and interplanetary missions. NASA has awarded a contract to the Orbital Sciences Corporation, managed by the Air Force's Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW), to use a Minotaur V to launch the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is a space exploration mission scheduled for launch in early 2013. To carry out the mission NASA will send a robotic spacecraft into orbit around the Moon, and use instruments aboard the spacecraft to study the Moon's atmosphere and dust in the...
(LADEE) Mission from the Wallops Island, Virginia launch site in early 2013. The Minotaur will launch the LADEE spacecraft into a highly elliptic orbit where it can phase and time its trajectory burn to the moon.
Launch history
| Date (UTC) | Rocket | Flight | Payload | Launch pad | Trajectory | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2000 03:03:06 | Minotaur I | 1 | JAWSat JAWSAT The Joint Air Force-Weber State University Satellite is an American military mini-satellite launched aboard a Minotaur rocket on January 27, 2000 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. After its own launch, JAWSAT deployed four microsatellites: FalconSAT, OCSE, OPAL, and ASUSat. JAWSAT also... (P98-1) (FalconSat1 / ASUSat1 / OCSE / OPAL) |
Vandenberg Vandenberg Air Force Base Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command .... SLC-8 Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 8 Space Launch Complex 8 , is a launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States. It is used by Minotaur rockets... |
LEO | Success |
| May 28, 2000 20:00 | Minotaur II | 1 | OSP-TLV Missile Defense Technology Demonstrator | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| July 19, 2000 20:09:00 | Minotaur I | 2 | MightySat II.1 MightySat-2 MightySat-2 was a small spacecraft developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory to test advanced technologies in imaging, communications, and spacecraft bus components in space.- Design :... (Sindri, P99-1) / MEMS 2A / MEMS 2B |
Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| December 4, 2001 04:59 | Minotaur II | 2 | TLV-1 IFT-7 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| March 16, 2002 02:11 | Minotaur II | 3 | TLV-2 IFT-8 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| October 15, 2002 02:01 | Minotaur II | 4 | TLV-3 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| December 11, 2002 08:26 | Minotaur II | 5 | TLV-4 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| April 11, 2005 13:35:00 | Minotaur I | 3 | XSS-11 | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| September 23, 2005 02:24:00 | Minotaur I | 4 | Streak (STP-R1) | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| April 15, 2006 01:40:00 | Minotaur I | 5 | COSMIC (FORMOSAT-3) | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| December 16, 2006 12:00 | Minotaur I | 6 | TacSat-2 TacSat-2 TacSat-2 is an experimental satellite built by the USAF's Air Force Research Laboratory with an operational life expected to be not more than one year as part of the 'Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration' program.-Purpose:The TacSat series of experimental spacecraft are designed to allow... / GeneSat-1 GeneSat-1 GeneSat-1 is a fully automated, miniature spaceflight system that provides life support for bacterium. The system was launched into orbit on December 16, 2006 from Wallops Flight Facility. GeneSat-1 began to transmit data on its first pass over the mission's California ground station... |
MARS Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is a commercial space launch facility located at the southern tip of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Delmarva Peninsula south of Chincoteague, Virginia.-Background:... LP-0B Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0 Launch Pad 0, Pad 0 or LP-0, also known as Launch Area 0 or LA-0, is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island in the United States. Prior to 2003, the complex was part of the Wallops Flight Facility. It consists of two individual launch pads, LP-0A and LP-0B... |
LEO | Success |
| March 21, 2007 04:27 | Minotaur II | 6 | TLV-5 FTX-02 SBR target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| April 24, 2007 06:48 | Minotaur I | 7 | NFIRE Near Field Infrared Experiment The Near Field Infrared Experiment is a satellite which was proposed and developed by the Missile Defense Agency, a division of the United States Department of Defense. It was launched atop a Minotaur rocket, from Wallops Island, at 06:48 GMT on 24 April 2007... |
MARS LP-0B | LEO | Success |
| August 23, 2007 08:30 | Minotaur II+ | 7 | TLV-7 Mission 2a sensor target for NFIRE satellite | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| September 24, 2008 06:57 | Minotaur II+ | 8 | TLV-8 Mission 2b sensor target for NFIRE satellite | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| May 19, 2009 19:55 | Minotaur I | 8 | TacSat-3 TacSat-3 TacSat-3 is the third in a series of U.S. military reconnaissance satellites. It was assembled in an Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate facility at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The TacSat satellites are all designed to demonstrate the ability to provide real-time data... / PharmaSat PharmaSat PharmaSat is a nanosatellite developed by NASA Ames Research Center which measures the influence of microgravity upon yeast resistance to an antifungal agent... / AeroCube 3 AeroCube 3 AeroCube 3 is a single-unit CubeSat which was built and is being operated by The Aerospace Corporation. It is the third AeroCube satellite, following on from AeroCube 1, which was lost in a launch failure in 2006, and AeroCube 2 which was successfully launched in 2007 but failed immediately after... / HawkSat I HawkSat I HawkSat I is a single-unit CubeSat which was built is being operated by the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences. It is based around a Pumpkin Incorporated CubeSat kit, and carries a technology demonstration payload, primarily as a proof-of-concept mission, testing command, data and power subsystems,... / CP-6 CP-6 This article is about the satellite. For the operating system, see CP-6 operating systemCP-6, also known as PolySat-6, PolySat CP-6 or CalPoly 6 is a single-unit CubeSat which was built and is operated by the California Polytechnic State University. It is primarily intended to perform a technology... |
MARS LP-0B | LEO | Success |
| April 22, 2010 23:00 | Minotaur IV Lite | 1 | HTV-2a hypersonic research spacecraft | Vandenberg SLC-8 | Suborbital | Success |
| September 26, 2010 04:41 | Minotaur IV | 2 | SBSS | Vandenberg SLC-8 | SSO | Success |
| November 19, 2010 01:45 | Minotaur IV HAPS | 3 | FASTRAC-A / FASTRAC-B / FalconSat-5 / FASTSAT / O/OREOS / RAX RAX Radio Aurora Explorer is the first National Science Foundation sponsored CubeSat mission . The RAX mission is a joint effort between in Menlo Park, California and the in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The chief scientist, Dr. Hasan Bahcivan, led his team at SRI to develop the payload while the chief... |
Kodiak LP-1 | LEO | Success |
| February 6, 2011 12:26 | Minotaur I | 9 | NROL-66 | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| June 30th, 2011 03:09 | Minotaur I | 10 | ORS-1 | MARS Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is a commercial space launch facility located at the southern tip of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Delmarva Peninsula south of Chincoteague, Virginia.-Background:... LP-0B Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0 Launch Pad 0, Pad 0 or LP-0, also known as Launch Area 0 or LA-0, is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island in the United States. Prior to 2003, the complex was part of the Wallops Flight Facility. It consists of two individual launch pads, LP-0A and LP-0B... |
LEO | Success |
| August 11th, 2011 10:46am EDT | Minotaur IV | 4 | Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HVT-2b) | Vandenberg Air Force Base | Suborbital | Success |
| September 27th, 2011 11:49 EDT | Minotaur IV | 5 | TacSat-4 TacSat-4 TacSat-4 is the fourth in a series of U.S. military experimental reconnaissance and communication satellites. The Naval Research Laboratory is the program manager. The Office of Naval Research sponsored the development of the payload and funded the first year of operations... |
Kodiak LP-1 | HEO | Success |