Minotaur IV
Encyclopedia
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. The first orbital launch, occurred on 26 September 2010 with the SBSS
satellite for the United States Air Force
.
The Minotaur IV vehicle consists of four stages
and is capable of placing 1735 kilograms (3,825 lb) of payload into a Low Earth orbit
(LEO). It uses the first three stages of the Peacekeeper missile, combined with a new upper stage. On the baseline version, the fourth stage is an Orion-38. However a higher performance variant, designated Minotaur IV+, uses a Star-48V
instead. A three stage configuration (no Orion-38), designated the Minotaur IV Lite, is available for Suborbital
trajectories. A five stage derivative, the Minotaur V
, is also under development.
Minotaur IV launches will be conducted from SLC-8
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
, LP-0B
at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
.
. The launch facility contractor was Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC). The payloads were released in a 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) orbit, before the HAPS upper stage was demonstrated by deploying two ballast payloads into a 1200 kilometres (745.6 mi).
The primary objective of the STP-S26 launch was to deploy STPSat-2, whilst demonstrating the ability of the Minotaur IV to carry additional payloads, by deploying FASTSAT, FASTRAC
, RAX
, O/OREOS
and FalconSat-5
. A Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System upper stage was flown aboard the Minotaur to demonstrate its ability to deploy payloads to multiple orbits, however only mass simulators were deployed after the HAPS burn.
The launch marked the first flight of a STP-SIV (Standard Interface Vehicle) satellite, the first use of the Multi Mission Satellite Operations Center Ground System Architecture (MMSOC GSA),, the first flight of the Minotaur IV's Multi-payload Adapter (MPA), the first use of a HAPS to obtain multiple orbits on a Minotaur IV flight, the first Minotaur launch from Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), and the first deployment of CubeSats from a Minotaur IV via Poly-PicoSatellite Orbital Deployers (P-Pods).
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated 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...
, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The first orbital launch, occurred on 26 September 2010 with the SBSS
Space Based Space Surveillance
The Space Based Space Surveillance system is a planned constellation of satellites and supporting ground infrastructure that will improve the ability of the United States Department of Defense to detect and track space objects in orbit around the Earth...
satellite for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
The Minotaur IV vehicle consists of four stages
Multistage rocket
A multistage rocket is a rocket that usestwo or more stages, each of which contains its own engines and propellant. A tandem or serial stage is mounted on top of another stage; a parallel stage is attached alongside another stage. The result is effectively two or more rockets stacked on top of or...
and is capable of placing 1735 kilograms (3,825 lb) of payload into a 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). It uses the first three stages of the Peacekeeper missile, combined with a new upper stage. On the baseline version, the fourth stage is an Orion-38. However a higher performance variant, designated Minotaur IV+, uses a Star-48V
Star 48
The Star 48 is a type of solid rocket motor used by many space propulsion and launch vehicle stages, including the Space Shuttle and the New Horizons probe. It is used almost exclusively as an upper stage...
instead. A three stage configuration (no Orion-38), designated the Minotaur IV Lite, is available for Suborbital
Sub-orbital spaceflight
A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not complete one orbital revolution....
trajectories. A five stage derivative, the Minotaur V
Minotaur V
The Minotaur V is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minotaur IV, itself a derivative of the Peacekeeper missile. It is being developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2012 carrying the LADEE spacecraft for NASA.The Minotaur V is a...
, is also under development.
Minotaur IV launches will be conducted from 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...
at Vandenberg Air Force Base
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 ....
, 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...
at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
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:...
, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
Kodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
.
Launches
| Date/Time (UTC) | Variant | Launch Site | Payload | Trajectory | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 April 2010 23:00 |
Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | HTV-2a | Suborbital | Successful | Successful launch, but payload failed |
| 26 September 2010 04:41 |
Minotaur IV | Vandenberg SLC-8 | SBSS | SSO | Successful | |
| 19 Nov 2010 | Minotaur IV HAPS | Kodiak LP-1 | STPSat-2 FASTRAC-A FASTRAC-B FalconSat-5 FASTSAT O/OREOS O/OREOS The O/OREOS nanosatellite is a automated laboratory approximately the size of a loaf of bread that contains two separate experiments on board... 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... NanoSail-D2 NanoSail-D2 NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite built by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters , with a mass of... |
LEO | Successful | STP-S26 launch. Included a Hydrazine Hydrazine Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually... Auxiliary Propulsion System (HAPS) to take the vehicle to a secondary orbit after placing payloads into the primary orbit |
| 11 Aug 2011 | Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | HTV-2b | Suborbital | Successful | Successful launch, but payload failed |
| 27 September 2011 | Minotaur IV+ | Kodiak LP-1 | 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... |
LEO | Successful | First Minotaur IV+ launch |
| Scheduled Launches | ||||||
| 4th Q 2012 | Minotaur IV | Vandenberg SLC-8 | TacSat-5 TacSat-5 TacSat-5 is a planned fifth satellite in a series of U.S. military reconnaissance satellites. The project will be managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory in cooperation with the Operationally Responsive Space Office of the Department of Defense... |
LEO | Might launch on a 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... |
|
| 1st Q 2013 | Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | CSM CSM -Post-nominal letters:*Conspicuous Service Medal, Australian military decoration*Companion of the Order of the Star of Melanesia, Papua New Guinea honours rank*Companion of the Sacred Mission, religious order-Computers and information technology:... |
Suborbital | ||
STP-S26
The third Minotaur IV launch, which was also known as STP-S26, deployed eight payloads. The 26th small launch vehicle mission in STP's 40-year history of flying DoD space experiments, STP-S26 was intended to extend previous standard interface development efforts, implementing a number of capabilities aimed at enabling responsive access to space for small experimental satellites and payloads. STP-S26 launched at 01:45 UTC on 20 November 2010 from the Kodiak Launch ComplexKodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
. The launch facility contractor was Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC). The payloads were released in a 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) orbit, before the HAPS upper stage was demonstrated by deploying two ballast payloads into a 1200 kilometres (745.6 mi).
The primary objective of the STP-S26 launch was to deploy STPSat-2, whilst demonstrating the ability of the Minotaur IV to carry additional payloads, by deploying FASTSAT, FASTRAC
Fastrac
Fastrac may refer to* JCB Fastrac, tractor by J. C. Bamford* Fastrac rocket engine, NASA's project* Fastrac, VTLS software* Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude, and Crosslink, A University of Texas satellite...
, 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...
, O/OREOS
O/OREOS
The O/OREOS nanosatellite is a automated laboratory approximately the size of a loaf of bread that contains two separate experiments on board...
and FalconSat-5
USA-221
USA-221, also known as FalconSat-5, is an American military minisatellite, which was launched in 2010. The fifth FalconSat spacecraft to be launched, it carries four technology development and ionospheric research experiments. The satellite was constructed and is operated by the United States Air...
. A Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System upper stage was flown aboard the Minotaur to demonstrate its ability to deploy payloads to multiple orbits, however only mass simulators were deployed after the HAPS burn.
The launch marked the first flight of a STP-SIV (Standard Interface Vehicle) satellite, the first use of the Multi Mission Satellite Operations Center Ground System Architecture (MMSOC GSA),, the first flight of the Minotaur IV's Multi-payload Adapter (MPA), the first use of a HAPS to obtain multiple orbits on a Minotaur IV flight, the first Minotaur launch from Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), and the first deployment of CubeSats from a Minotaur IV via Poly-PicoSatellite Orbital Deployers (P-Pods).